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On one hand, there is relief news for the health department and common citizens from Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, while on the other hand, a period of increasing alertness is also going on. A total of 27 positive cases of swine flu have been reported in the city within the last few days, which caused initial panic in the health department, but due to the timely and accurate treatment process started by the doctors and medical teams, 22 of these patients have returned to their homes after completely recovering. Amidst the continuous changes in weather, fluctuations in humidity and temperature, this infection of H1N1 virus i.e. swine flu has once again become active, due to which the district administration and the office of the Chief Medical Officer have issued special guidelines to all the major government and private hospitals of the city. Although the high number of recovering patients is definitely a positive sign, the health department is in no mood to show laxity and precautionary measures are being taken in every corner of the city so that this dangerous infection can be prevented from taking the form of an epidemic in time.
In view of this sudden surge in swine flu cases, the CMO office of Lucknow and the District Health Administration have fully geared up and have deployed rapid response teams at the field level with full activeness. Separate isolation wards and special flu corners have been set up for suspected swine flu patients in the city’s Civil Hospital, Balrampur Hospital, King George Medical University (KGMU) and Ram Manohar Lohia Institute, where prompt testing of patients and provision of free medicines has been ensured. Health department teams are conducting door-to-door surveys in the areas from where swine flu patients have recently emerged, so that possible sources of infection can be detected in time and other people who came in contact can be screened immediately. Along with this, adequate quantity of anti-viral drugs especially Oseltamivir has been made available in the hospitals so that no patient has to face inconvenience due to lack of treatment and the serious condition can be dealt with effectively.
Doctors and health experts say that swine flu i.e. H1N1 influenza is a very fast spreading viral disease, but if its symptoms are identified in the early stages then its treatment proves to be very easy and effective. The main symptoms of this infection include high fever, persistent dry cough, sore throat or severe pain, unbearable stiffness and pain in the body and muscles, feeling extremely tired and in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea. The initial symptoms of common cold and swine flu are quite similar, hence in case of even the slightest doubt, RT-PCR or nasal swab test should be done immediately with the doctor’s advice so that the right medicine can be started in time. Especially small children, elderly people, pregnant women and people already suffering from any serious disease like diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease are most at risk from this virus, because their immunity is weak, due to which they need to be kept under immediate medical observation.
Amidst the increasing cases of swine flu in the capital Lucknow, experts have advised the general public to be completely alert instead of panicking and make some basic precautions a part of their daily life. Always wear a good quality mask when visiting crowded areas, markets, malls and closed spaces, as the virus spreads in the air through droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water several times a day or use alcohol-based sanitizers regularly, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with dirty hands. If you are feeling symptoms like fever, cough or cold, avoid going to public places, isolate yourself at home and maintain distance from other family members so that the infection does not spread to others. Apart from this, include fresh fruits rich in Vitamin C, green vegetables and adequate amount of lukewarm water in your diet so that your immunity remains strong and the body can fight such seasonal infections boldly.