No need of swine flu panic: Doctors

LAHORE - Prof Javed Akram, Principal Allama Iqbal Medical College and Jinnah Hospital Lahore has said there was no need of panic since the mortality of the disease with swine flu was less than half a per cent.
He said Jinnah hospital has complete diagnostic and treatment facility for swine flu patients, adding that Jinnah hospital was the first institution of the province to have such integrated facilities for five hundred patients.
He expressed these views while addressing a seminar on “An overview on Swine Influenza Viral Infection” on Monday. Director General Health, Dr Aslam was the guest of honor, while Dr Saeed Elahi, MPA, Dr Asad Ashraf, MPA and Dr Zamurad Yasmin Rana, MPA were the special guests. Prof Javed Akram, presided over the seminar. A large number of consultants, Executive District Officers from all over the province, doctors, nurses, students and media personnel attended the seminar.
Dr Javed Akram speaking about the clinical sign and symptoms of the disease said that like all cases of common influenza the symptoms were sore throat, high-grade fever, bodily aches and pains of a more severe nature, he informed. What was needed, he emphasized was preparedness and prevention. It was for the clinicians to decide which cases required the specific tests for swine flu. Simple measures like frequent handwashing, use of face masks and segregation of patients was enough to prevent the spread of infection. Most of the cases recover fully within a short span of time and only compromised patients, the very young and very old or those suffering from some other concurrent disease are most susceptible, he said.