Swine flu resurfaces, 15 more infected in Mumbai

Swine flu is back again and so is the panic linked with the virus. Emergence of fresh cases on a daily basis is a clear indication that the strain is ramping up very quickly once again.

Fifteen more people tested positive for the influenza in Mumbai on Wednesday taking the total number, affected by the disease, to 100 in the month of June.

The health authorities have assured the public that despite the surging number of infections, there was no need for panic as the situation was under control.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) attributed the sudden spurt to "just better reporting from private laboratories".

Schools to take precautionary measures after two fresh cases were reported
Among the new cases detected, one is a class IX girl studying in Shree Narayanrao Acharya Vidyaniketan School in Chembur. Following the complaints of fever and breathlessness, she was admitted in Kasturba Hospital.

According to her doctor, “Her symptoms indicate that she may have H1N1. While we wait for the test report, we have admitted her to the swine flu ward and have started administering Tamiflu.”

Another is a 7-year-old boy from Shri Narayan Guru School in Chembur. He has been quarantined at home since his symptoms are not too severe.

Confirming the fresh cases, Dr Daksha Shah, in charge of BMC’s swine flu control unit stated, “We have already informed all schools to take precautionary measures to avoid spread of H1N1.

“Soon we will review the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for schools and colleges and once these have been revised by the State, we will issue them to all educational institutions in the city.

“While these guidelines say that schools must not shut down if any students develop swine flu, they make it mandatory for all class teachers to begin class by screening each student for H1N1 symptoms.”

Demand for swine flu vaccine rises among doctors
The sudden surge in swine flu deaths and infections in the city has encouraged many doctors to get the H1N1 shot, who were earlier shying away fearing the side-effects.

Nearly, 91 people in the medical staff at Sion Hospital got inoculated in the past three days. Also, many doctors from Kasturba Hospital in Chinchpokli have taken the vaccine.

In addition, around 230 doses of the vaccine were collected by MT Agarwal, Sushrusha and Hinduja hospitals for their medical staff.

“Doctors have been showing more interest in taking the vaccine in the last few days,” said Dr Mangala Gomare, BMC's immunisation programme in-charge.