Swine flu outbreak hits population in the region

Rawalpindi

The increasing number of patients with swine flu, influenza H1N1, being registered at public and private hospitals in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi hints that the population in the region is in the middle of a widespread swine flu outbreak.

The data collected by ‘The News’ on Wednesday has revealed that over 25 deaths in various hospitals of the twin cities can be attributed to the infection though the hospital authorities are terming deaths caused by swine flu as flu-related or pneumonia-related deaths.

Over 10 patients, including confirmed and suspected cases of swine flu, were undergoing treatment in isolation ward at the Holy Family Hospital on Wednesday, while the infection or co-morbidities has claimed a total of five lives at the District Headquarters Hospital and Benazir Bhutto Hospital in town in last one-and-a-half months.

‘The News’ has learnt that as many as 13 deaths could be attributed to swine flu at three hospitals, including one private hospital in Islamabad. The infection has claimed the same number of lives at the three teaching hospitals in Rawalpindi.

According to health experts, the situation may get worse if proper prevention and control measures are not taken immediately.

It is, however, important that at present the medication for swine flu, including oseltamivir and zanamivir, are not available easily in most of the markets of twin cities while a number of healthcare facilities are incapable of following standard isolation required for managing swine flu patients.

The HFH has established a proper infectious diseases ward to keep swine flu suspects reaching allied hospitals in town and at present, nearly 10 patients of the infection including three confirmed patients are undergoing treatment at the HFH, said Medical Superintendent of HFH Dr. Shafiq Sarwar while talking to ‘The News’ on Wednesday.

He said that the reporting of even two confirmed cases of an infection like swine flu should be taken as an epidemic and Rawalpindi Medical College and Allied Hospitals have already developed a proper system to manage swine flu patients. The isolation ward established for dengue fever recently is being used for keeping swine flu patients, including confirmed and suspected ones, he said.

To a query, he said the situation is well under control at the time and if individuals would follow proper preventive measures to avoid flu, the losses could be minimised.