Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 18: Kashmir valley has so far recorded seven swine flu related deaths this season and cases of H1N1 are expected to rise in coming days, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura said today.
The SKIMS Director, AG Ahangar, told a press conference that as on date, the SKIMS has treated 24 positive cases of H1N1, out of which 12 have been discharged, 5 are under treatment. “Unfortunately, seven patients have expired because of other co-morbidities primarily like Malignancies, leukemia, COPD, Immune compromised states,” he said.
The Director said all these patients are managed by the Department of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Pulmonary Medicine and all other correlated disciplines depending on the nature of underline aliments.
He said with the seasonal variations in Jammu and Kashmir in general and Kashmir valley in particular during autumn and winter season, when temperature dips, the viral surge in the atmosphere leads to increased incidence of such infections, forcing people to take necessary precautions in order to avoid the escalation and spread of such infectious diseases.
“No part of the world and for that matter no population is immune to such epidemics least the valley of Kashmir, which is unfortunately as on date, facing slightly increased surge in Swine flu (H1N1) infections,” the Director said.
He said the SKIMS is bearing maximum brunt of patient population because of the tertiary care facilities available. “SKIMS is not a preventive or primary centre. Unfortunately, all those secondary or primary centres who should have dealt with these cases of H1N1 are washing off their hands and which is not only taxing our entire system but also creating unnecessary panic,” he said.
The staff members looking after H1N1 patients have been provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) /masks and other facilities for their personal protection as well as immunization against H1N1, said Ahangar. The Director confirmed that three SKIMS’ doctors were tested positive for H1N1 “but thank God they are doing their services”.
He informed that they have purchased 250 vaccines for staffers of the SKIMS and given order for the purchase of 2000 more vaccines. The Director said that given the shelf life of the vaccines, they cannot order them in large numbers and do only on the basis of their requirement. Asked whether vaccination would work even at the time of outbreak of flu, he said: “Unless you are not H1N1 positive, you can vaccinate any time.”
On the occasion, Professor Aijaz of Department of Infection, SKIMS, said that they expect cases of swine flu to rise in Valley. “We were anticipating swine flu in January-February, not so early…it is a right time to vaccine, cases may show upward trend but rainfall may change (the trend),” he said. The Director SKIMS however asked people not to panic.
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