3 cases of swine flu reported in city

Experts advise people not to panic

Hyderabad: Three cases of swine flu have been reported from various hospitals in Hyderabad in the last few days according to the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM). But the experts say not to panic. “Between January and July, 8,642 swine flu samples were tested and out of these 2,538 cases were detected positive,” said Dr Amarender Reddy, Director, IPM.

A patient by name Satyakumari from Motinagar of Hyderabad was admitted with fever on July 24 at Nampally Care Hospital. In subsequent diagnostics, her samples were sent to IPM for swine flu test. IPM confirmed that she has swine flu and treatment has been going on in isolation ward.

In Apollo hospitals, Jubilee hills, 35-year-old Suresh was admitted with fever and breathlessness. He had come from Saudi Arabia to India. He was admitted last week and was shifted to Intensive Care Unit, said Dr Sridhar, ICU physician at Apollo Hospitals. He said, “Suresh was put on ventilator as oxygen saturation did not improve in blood and subsequent tests found swine flu. He improved after five days on ventilator now shifted to the ward. His condition is stable,” Dr Sridhar said.

Advising not to panic, Dr K Subhakar, professor of Pulmonology at Osmania Medical College, said that swine flu was not a new virus anymore. It spreads through droplets made when people cough sneeze or talk. Therefore, affected patients should stay home and wear mask before going into public, he advised. Dr Prabhakar also suggested washing hands before eating food.