Although there is not a panic-like-situation in Chhattisgarh due to swine flu cases spike, the situation is slowly attaining alarming levels; given the fact that the State has reported nine mortalities in the past nearly three months.

However, the authorities from State Epidemic Control termed the situation not so alarming since according to them most of the mortalities that fall prey to the pandemic were due to comorbidities while only one death was attributed to swine-flu.

But in a sharp contrast to the claims of the authorities, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday issued a blanket directive to the Secretary of Health Department for holding a high-level meeting to take stock of preparations for dealing with the challenges from the pandemic.

The Chief Minister’s concern is befitting given the official statistics (district wise bulletin) of a spike in positive cases of H1N1 cases across the state. So far, Chhattisgarh has recorded 296 patients, who have been found positive with H1N1 virus, wherein Raipur alone registered the highest 33 cases, followed by Durg with 10 whereas Raigarh and Baloda Bazar registered 4 cases each. If the official bulletin issued by the State Administration is any yardstick, Chhattisgarh has accounted for total eight deaths, wherein seven with co-morbidities, while one due to swine flu. The last official death recorded was of a 52-year-old patient from Raipur, who died in the month of August.

Meanwhile, talking to The Hitavada, Director, State Epidemic Control, Dr Subhash Mishra said, the pandemic is a seasonal outbreak, which often commences during the rainy season and ends by September end. “Maintaining proper hygiene, including hand-washing and wearing facemasks, avoiding moving into crowded places and ensuring social-physical distance can help to overcome the infection,” he cautioned.

Dr Mishra further said, high fever above 101 degrees for more than three days, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny or blocked nose, or fatigue, are common symptoms of the infection.

State reels under swine flu “Commonly used anti-viral medicines such cetirizine and paracetamol (prescribed by general physician) can be used for couple of days following the development of aforesaid symptoms,” he said, adding further that patients should immediately go see the doctors if there is no reprieve from the medication. Mostly, according to Dr Mishra, elderly people, kids and pregnant women, having co-morbidities like diabetes, blood pressure, cardio-vascular and lung ailments are more vulnerable to the virus and hence they need to take more precaution.