Swine flu not so dangerous

Doctors are hoping that the incidence of swine flu will come down in coming days as the temperature goes up.

No cold wave has been predicted by the Indian Meteorological Department on Friday as against their earlier warning. This has raised hopes of temperatures rising and doctors think the incidence of the disease will come down in coming days. Experts also say that the current disease is, in fact, only a human flu and not actually swine flu and its potency has decreased tremendously since the pandemic of 2009.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, NIMS Director Dr L. Narendranath said that flu occurs every winter. “This year there has been a steeper temperature drop. So the incidence seems to be a little higher. But in coming days, as temperatures rise, we are hoping that incidence will come down.” Experts also say that the potency of the virus has decreased tremendously since the pandemic of 2009 and, in its current form it is just a human flu meaning there is no reason to fear.

“The 2009 virus was from swine. Thereafter it modified itself and in 2012 WHO said it is a human virus and is not as aggressive as the original one. It is just like Influenza A,” Dr B. Vijay Kumar, general physician, Yashoda Hospital said. He also said about 85 per cent of the patients, this time, could be managed easily as outpatients and the remaining needed to be admitted because they had severe symptoms.

“WHO expects the virus to completely wane by 2017 or 2018. Similar was our experience this time. The potency and virulence is much less. Those who died already had some other conditions,” Dr Vijay Kumar said. A three-member central committee has also said that the virus has changed considerably over the years losing potency.

Meanwhile, Dr Narendranath said that the government has directed patients with milder symptoms to be shifted from Gandhi Hospital to Fever Hospital.