The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Expert allays fears over spread of swine flu

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Friday, Jul 24, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Expert allays fears over spread of swine flu

HYDERABAD: There was no need to panic even if the A(H1N1) virus spreads to general population as it was behaving more like a regular seasonal flu, according to Manjusha Gaglani, an expert on paediatric infectious diseases, who worked on influenza vaccination and A(H1N1) virus more recently.

Quarantining helps

Dr. Manjusha, associate professor, Paediatric Infectious Disease, Scott & White Hospital, A & M University, Texas, USA, said eventually the A(H1N1) virus would get into the general population. She advised home quarantining if anybody developed cough, sore throat, fever and body aches. Talking to reporters on the eve of an international workshop on neonatology here on Thursday, she said that most of the time healthy individuals would getter better within 3 to 4 days without any medication.

However, if they develop high fever for some days, develop symptoms like vomiting and dehydration, it would be better to seek medical attention.

Describing A(H1N1) virus as a “brand new one” with a mix of the sub-types of human, bird and swine influenza viruses, she said more people were catching it because the human body no immunity against it.

People at higher risk of contracting the virus were pregnant women, diabetics, obese or those having asthma.

Dr. Manjusha said that a vaccine against A(H1N1) virus was likely to be available world over in a few months. The WHO was ensuring equitable distribution as the virus had spread to 90 countries.

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