Pune: Civic health officials screen 3,276 patients for swine flu

PUNE: As many as 3,276 patients present with influenza like illness were screened for swine flu at Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) run screening centres in the city on July 12. With this, the total number of patients with influenza-like illness who were screened in the city so far this year has reached 5.04 lakh.
"Of the 5.04 lakh screened patients, we administered oseltamivir tablets popularly known as Tamiflu or Fluvir to a total of 5,820 patients who were suspected to have contracted the infection," said a health official of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
As many as 142 patients have tested positive for the virus in the city so far this year. Of them, 45 have succumbed to the virus induced complications.
Swine flu — just like any other flu — is a respiratory infection. It exploits a weakened immune system to attack major organs, especially lungs. When it gets into the lungs, it can lead to pneumonia, which can be fatal. The flu can also cause secondary infections to the body — any of which can lead to failure of vital organs and death.
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Taking medicine without consultation and delaying treatment can aggravate the condition.
Experts say that people should continue to take precautions in terms of basic sanitation practices like frequent hand washing, good diet and healthy habits as the virus is still infecting people. People with co-morbid conditions should be more vigilant.