Food and herbal nutritional products » Advice » India On High Alert To Prevent Swine Flu From Spreading
India On High Alert To Prevent Swine Flu From Spreading
View PDF | Print View
by: Guest
Total views: 362 Word Count: 815
Mumbai, India (AHN) - As the number of swine flu cases reaches 1,500 across 21 countries, India remains on high alert with heightened surveillance at international airports and ports to stop the entry of the infection into the country. But the authorities in India have not shutdown its borders.
Though there are no confirmed cases tested yet, India is no exception when it comes to reporting dozens of suspected cases as travelers have swine influenza A (H1N1) symptoms.
"The screening at the airports has been increased and the passengers' travel history is being checked by the authorities. But there is no evidence of the flu," Dr. A. C. Mishra, director of Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV), told AHN Media Corp.
"The passengers who show symptoms at the entry point are swabbed, which are then tested in the laboratory. Many a times we have to quarantine critical cases and take them to the hospital. But the less critical cases are allowed to go home and mix with original population, after we have their contact details to track them later."
Mishra did not disclose the exact number of suspected cases in India, but said that the institute, which is recognized by the World Health Organization, is working with the Delhi-based National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) to test the patients for swine flu.
According to him, there is no particular reason for swine flu infection not being detected in India.
"There are other countries too that have not contracted or reported the flu infection spread. So it is not that the Indian population is resistant or immune to the virus infection," he said.
"This is something very new and we are yet to find a vaccine for it. Influenza is a funny virus because twice a year new vaccines are made. So we have no exact clue what the new strain of flu virus is capable of doing."
The NIV and NICD have been testing the samples together, a step which is allowing the authorities to be sure about the cases once the reports by the two health agencies match.
The influenza A (H1N1) is usually found in pigs and contracted only by people in contact with the animals. The current spread of virus is from human to human, primarily through coughing and sneezing.
"There's nothing to change in travelers' travel plan as there is no sign of swine flu in India," Jitendra Bhargava, director-public relations for Air India Airlines, told AHN Media Corp.
Although Air India does not fly to Mexico, he confirmed that India is on alert and the health officials are screening the inbound passengers at all the airports. Air India is one of the major carriers in India that fly to 12 international and 26 domestic destinations.
"We are working in accordance to the WHO's recommendation and there is no advisory suggesting to stop flying to any countries," Bhargava said.
According to the WHO, limiting travel and imposing travel restrictions would have very little effect on stopping the virus from spreading, "but would be highly disruptive to the global community."
"Although identifying the signs and symptoms of influenza in travelers can be an effective monitoring technique, it is not effective in reducing the spread of influenza as the virus can be transmitted from person to person before the onset of symptoms," the international health agency said.
It added, "Scientific research based on mathematical modeling indicates that restricting travel will be of limited or no benefit in stopping the spread of disease. Historical records of previous influenza pandemics, as well as experience with SARS, have validated this point."
The WHO has not yet raised its flu alert from Level 5 to Level 6 as there is still no evidence of the flu's sustained spread outside North America.
India's tour and travel operators are taking necessary precautions to arrange travelers' tour destinations and advising the current tourists to change plans or return home, if required.
"We are working closely with the authorities in all our markets, and where the advice is that only essential travel is permitted to Mexico, we are offering our customers the opportunity to change their holiday destination at no charge," Kruti Sharma, head of corporate communications at Mumbai-based Thomas Cook, a leading tour and travel operator.
She added, "We are also offering our customers in Cancun the opportunity to curtail their holiday and return home early should they wish. A small number of customers have come home early, but the majority of customers have been happy to continue their holidays in Cancun as planned."
As many as 21 countries have officially reported 1490 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection as of May 5, with Mexico reporting 822 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 29 deaths, according to the WHO.
The United States has reported 403 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death, across 38 states.
Additional information:
Health Advice - Men's Health
Your Quest4Health- Health Advice , Health Articles, Physician Blogs
Free health advice News
India Health Advice - addictedtotravel.com
Health and Safety Tip for Study Abroad Students - Health Advice in
India - Directorate General, Factory Advice Service and Labour
Yahoo! India Directory > Shopping > Health > Consumer Medical Advice
India Diets : Health , nutrition, fitness, free health analysis
Health Advice Websites - Madmums , Pregnancy advice and Parenting
Common Health Advice For Betterment, kolkata, India
Related "Health advice":
- Consultants scramble to offer firms swine flu advice
What happens when your business is suffering th ... - How to reduce your impact on the planet
Earth Day happens one day a year. But it should ... - Fittest Losers get leaner, healthier and tougher with two weeks to go
It is possible. If there is one message our five ... - US Medical Personnel and Interrogations: What Do We Know? What Don ...
Bush Admin Quietly Rejected Own 'Highly Questiona ... - Valleys top anti-depressant table
More anti-depressant drugs are being prescribed ...
Rating: Not yet rated (votes: 0)
