Chennai: For two reasons swine flu and its catchy headlines are there to stay for the next few months, admit confidential sources dealing the virus and its infection. First reason, according to government and private medical practitioners, is that cases are brushed under carpet and second is increase in the number of swine flu admission cases.
“The increase in the number of cases is due to the advice of the state government insisting upon doctors to admit patients whenever there are even mild symptoms of swine flu. Due to this factor, both the prevalence of swine flu and the mortality had drastically come down in Chennai, Coimbatore, Vellore and Trichy areas,” Dr K Kulandhaisamy, Director of Public Health, told DC.
Refuting reports that swine flu figures are hushed up, the medical official emphasized that as on date there is no epidemic outbreak of swine flu anywhere in the state. There are only sporadic cases.
Earlier, there were incidents like villagers of Gumidipoondi being treated in enmasse. And remember our medical team tracking HINI infected families to Kerala and Gudiyattam to ensure that the virus is kept at bay. Now there are no such dreaded incidents, he noted. However, not all medical practitioners are convinced with the official version.
Swine flu is there and there is nothing to worry if it is treated early, but the government should be more transparent, when it comes to declaring the positive cases. Take for instance the state annual policy note tabled in the assembly speaks only about the all India death figures due to swine flu and not related to TN or any district specific,” said a medical officer attached to a civic body. Dr Kulandhaisamy said, “Our state health minister has also reached out to doctors insisting them to admit patients even if there are slight symptoms of swine flu.
We have segregated swine flu cases in to three categories A, B and C. Usually the category C, which is of advanced stage needs hospital attention, but now even the B category patients are admitted and in case of A category, the treatment is given at full pace.”By next year, the cases of all infectious diseases and its prevalence will be made online in the public domain, he added.
