The Ministry of Health has been urged to take preventive measures like proper screening of incoming passengers to check any importation of the H1N1 virus that causes Swine Flu. Citizens complained that due to inappropriate arrangements at airports, there is a chance of import of the virus.
They demanded that besides making proper arrangements at airports, sea ports and land entry points should also be made protective to avert the disease. Authenticating the fears, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) sources confirmed that many overseas Pakistanis and other countrymen who performed Umrah are admitted in the hospital with different viruses they carried from countries they visited. Though so far, no swine flu case has been reported but preventive measures should be adopted to protect the citizens, they added.
When contacted, an official of the Ministry of Health informed that instructions have been issued to the concerned departments for detection and handling of importation of H1N1 virus. He said the ministry has made proper arrangements in the hospitals in this regard including immediate isolation and hospitalisation of any suspected case. He said instructions have also been issued to the airport authorities regarding screening of incoming travellers.
Similarly, the Ministry has issued instructions to the officials at sea ports and land entry points for screening of individuals on their entering. Also, heads of educational institutions of the federal and provincial level have also been asked to advise parents to have proper check on their children, particularly those having flue-like symptoms. He concluded that the heads of all hospitals across the country have been instructed to advise their staff to maintain the history of patients with flu-like symptoms and use protective measures while handling such patients.
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of the swine (pig) caused by type A influenza virus that causes regular outbreaks in the animal. The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu included fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with Swine Flu.
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