The H1N1 swine flu virus has set the alarm bells ringing in the city as every day fresh cases reporting symptoms of the virus or confirmed with the infection is increasing in number. People are left in panic as this virus is highly contagious and could spread from the infected person to others.
A Resident Doctor from Coimbatore General Hospital Dr. Soundara Vel has stated that, 'In the past three months in Coimbatore, close to 200 patients were reported to be infected with swine flu virus and got treated at various private hospitals and GH. Patients from various nearby districts like Tiruppur, Erode and Nilgris also were admitted in Coimbatore GH for treatment of swine flu.
Currently, 36 patients have been admitted in GH who have complained of prolonged fever and with symptoms of swine flu. Out of which 8 blood reports of eight patients affirm swine flu infection and remaining patients reports are yet to be received. Once the reports arrive, number of swine flu patients could go higher.
Three people are confirmed with dengue fever, patients with contagious fevers like swine flu are admitted in separate wards to avoid spread.
Hence people are advised to wash their hands thoroughly before food intake and not to take self-medication for fevers and related symptoms of swine flu. The earlier it's diagnosed swine flu is 100% curable but unreasonable delays could lead to death also. Sufficient amount of swine flu and dengue medicines have been stocked at the GH for treating patients' said Dr. Soundara Vel from GH.