Experts fear surge of swine flu cases in Pakistan

KARACHI (PPI) - Experts fear there might be a huge surge in swine flu cases in Karachi, as the government-run hospitals are not properly equipped to cope with the new viral disease. They say delay in diagnosis of swine flu cases might prove costly as this largest city of the country has even not a single virology laboratory and presently samples of suspect patients are sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad.
Ex-secretary general of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and noted ENT surgeon Dr Qaiser Sajjad said the normal symptoms of swine flu are like normal flu and patients mostly visit ENT doctors, adding ENT doctors, themselves, are at the high risk of catching infection.
He said swine flu spread from people to people. He said we Pakistanis are highly vulnerable as in our culture close physical contact like shaking hand shake and hugging is normal for greeting one another. He said in this close physical contact culture the chances of spread of viral diseases like swine flu are alarmingly high. He said in our society a lot of families share same bath towels, soaps, combs, eating utensils, telephone sets and other things and in the scenario a patient carrying virus could infect whole family.
He said the chances of spread of swine flu at schools, colleges, public transport and crowded markets are higher, as coughing or sneezing of one infected person could spread the infection to others in no time.
Dr Sajjad said experts had already warned of the possible outbreak of swine flu after the Hajj season, but the government failed to arrange proper screening facilities for them. He said majority of government hospitals have no arrangements to deal with swine flu cases. He said only a few doctors and paramedics are trained how to safely handle a swine flu patient.
He said in many cases, a carrier of swine flu may be symptom-less and with mild symptoms of fever and common flu. He said in this background it is quite difficult even for doctors to properly diagnose the swine flu patients. He said the government is focusing on projects like roads and bridges, but this important thickly populated city is not given a proper virology laboratory to cope with dangerous viral infections.