Seminar on Update on swine flu: Get the facts, stay safe

EMN
Dimapur, March 3

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]mid growing fears about swine flu in the state of Nagaland, personnel of district health agencies and healthcare workers in Phek district on Tuesday were given updates during a seminar conducted by a local organization. Hospital Management Society of Phek district organized the seminar.
Officers and staffers of Phek district’s civil hospital were “updated with facts and statistics about the current swine flu epidemics at national and state level,” the organization stated in a press release issued to the media on March 3.Senior Pediatrician Dr Wethselo Tsuhah spoke about the epidemiology, clinical features, available treatments, preventive measures and how to deal with suspected cases. He emphasized on the importance of ‘everyday actions to protect health.’ He suggested washing hands regularly, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth and avoiding contact with sick people, avoiding crowded places, and refraining from embarking on unnecessary travels.
Another health official, Senior Pathologist Dr. Rongsen Longkumer highlighted the process of investigating cases, and how to collect samples under full personal protective equipments as well as the measures to be taken during transporting samples for testing.
“The staff was well briefed on the standard operating procedures and to strictly follow guidelines on infection control measures during pre hospital care and in hospital care,” the organizers said in the press release. “With isolation ward for H1N1Flu, informed staff and equipments in place the hospital sources appeal public to remain calm but vigilant and promptly seek medical help when sick.”
Health workers and staffers from the hospital as well as various other regional health care programs attended the seminar. They were encouraged not to panic but remain alert and ‘spread facts’ about swine flu among their immediate communities.

As the total number of deaths due to swine flu has now breached 1,115 mark and over 20,000 people have been affected with the H1N1 virus across India, here are top five facts that you need to know about the deadly disease:
• Swine flu (swine influenza) is a respiratory disease caused by viruses (influenza viruses) that infect the respiratory tract of pigs. Usually the virus is spread only among pigs, but it has now become deadly for humans. Till now, the disease has claimed more than 1000 lives across India in 2015.
• Swine flu is highly contagious, spread quickly from person to person through air, mucus and saliva particles. One should cover the nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing because a simple cough or sneeze can spread thousands of germs through the air.
• Symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu. Early symptoms include – cough, fever, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chills, vomiting or diarrhoea. If a person develops one of these symptoms, he/she should immediately consult a doctor.
• People who are at most risk include – children below three years of age, pregnant women, adults above 60 years of age, people with certain medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, asthma, diabetes or those with weakened immune systems.
• Swine flu can be diagnosed only through test in a specialised laboratory by identifying the particular antigens associated with the virus type. Recently, the Delhi government has fixed the rate for tests at Rs 4500, while private labs were charging up to Rs 10,000. Oseltamivir, marketed under the trade name Tamiflu, is the recommended anti viral drug which helps treat swine flu.
(Source: Internet)