Number of Swine flu patients on rise in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: The numbers of Swine flu patients is on the rise in Rawalpindi owing to the lack of implementation of instructions given by the Punjab government.

According to a report, the death toll from Swine flu has mounted to six in Rawalpindi.

The Punjab Government alerted the hospitals in the wake of rising Swine flu cases across the province, following which a dengue ward of Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi has been converted into swine flu ward.

Around 250 special dresses for doctors and paramedical staffs have been provided to government and private hospitals.

Executive District Officer health, Dr. Arshad Sabir has said that all the preparations have been finalized for protection from this disease. He said that special kits and vaccinations have been provided to all hospitals in this regard.

The hospital staff has been directed to remain on duty round-the-clock. A control room and monitoring cell has also been established to keep an eye on the situation.

According to media reports, at least 54 people have so far been affected throughout the province by the disease.

Swine flu, according to experts, is a respiratory disease caused by the H1N1 strain - a subtype of the influenza A virus that also circulated among pigs.

In 2009-10 swine flu spread from central Mexico around the world. Researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that it killed 284,000 people in 12 months.

H1N1 influenza also known as Swine flu killed more than 1,500 people in India last year compared to 218 in 2014. India says the strain is the same as the one that killed an estimated 284,000 people in the global pandemic of 2009-10.