Around 30 swine flu cases have been registered in Sindh, mainly in Karachi, during the first week of new year. The mysteriously spreading influenza virus of swine flue (H1N1) has taken lives of two persons and affected 30 other people in the province.
The first victim was Iftikharullah, 28, who died on New Year night. The second victim, a married woman named Rafia Aslam, died on Tuesday in one of the leading private hospitals in the city.
Swine Flu Surveillance Cell Focal Person Dr Shakeel Malik told Business Recorder that about 30 victims of the influenza virus swine flue (H1N1) have been registered, out of 80 blood samplings. Some of them are from medical attendants, and a doctor. About the areas of the affected people, he said that many of them belonged to New Karachi, North Karachi & Liaquatabad.
He said that the situation was under control. It is the normal influenza and these registered cases are positive. He said that on Saturday inauguration ceremony would be held in connection with regular opening of Influenza Lab in Civil Hospital, Karachi.
He said there are no charges for testing the sampling, while a leading private hospital charges Rs 6,500. Shakeel said that the results of sampling are available in 72 hours.
Experts have advised people to avoid public gathering, wash hands after passage of some time, take care of cleanliness, and use handkerchief while sneezing, because the virus can affect people to people through influenza.