Swine Flu Rumors in India
Suddenly, Swine Flu is everywhere on the media. We are seeing the death toll rising every day. Every Pandemic/Epidemic bring huge panic, which in turn results in spread of rumors and myths.
Lack of awareness and myths make an exponential impact on this sad epidemic!
Here’s an excellent extract of an article from Times Wellness by Radhika Mohta and Soumi Das which attempts to uncover such myths.
Swine flu is not as scary as its being perceived. All you need to do is treat it normally and stop the panic
The numbers bewildered us, the deaths got us scared, the predictions raised concern and just about everything to do with this flu raised panic. It is, however, time to calm down and deal with it more rationally.
Busting the myths
Myth: Swine flu is fatal
Fact: Doctors say ‘no’, if you do not have other complications. “Swine flu is absolutely normal and is just another variant of flu. It will not kill you if you begin treatment on time and remain quarantined,” explains Dr Syamasis Bandopadhyay, consultant physician and rheumatologist, Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Kolkata. He adds, “Taking Tamiflu twice a day for 5 days together with good rest is required to cure a patient.”
His views were affirmed by Dr Hemanth Thakkar, consultant physician at Jaslok, Breach Candy and Bhatia Hospital, Mumbai. He says, “One must remember that though it is a pandemic, it cannot turn into a plague-like situation. The mortality rate is less than 1%, and perhaps more people die of malaria in our country and no one takes notice. It is however important to diagnose it on time to prevent it from turning fatal.”
Myth: The deaths are caused by swine flu itself
Fact: “The deaths can be attributed to reasons like delay in treatment, low immunity, uncontrolled diabetes and other complications and not to the flu as such. Antibiotics along with Tamiflu tablets are essential for speedy recovery,” explains Dr Bharti Desai who runs Total Health Clinic in Matunga, Mumbai.
To increase your immunity, have a high protein diet and take multi-vitamin tablets after consulting the family physician.
Myth: Swine flu is a life threatening risk to the infected person
Fact: Dr Bandopadhyay reveals, “The thing to worry about H1N1 is that it is very easily communicable. Thus it can affect a large number of people at the same time.” Thus, more than the person infected, people around him/her are at a risk of being contaminated.
“The risk is of getting a large number of people getting affected at the same time. At an individual level, the flu is not life-threatening. The sheer ‘high number’ of cases is actually causing the panic,” explains Dr Bandhopadhyay.
It is better to be sure than sorry. But one needs to be careful while going to the hospital to give a swab test. “The panic situation in our country has prompted people to rush to a test centre even without real reasons. One needs to understand that, sometimes you can pick up the virus at the test centre. Hence it is advisable to consult your family/local doctor in case you have any symptoms. Only if he recommends, go for a test,” adds Dr Thakkar.
Survivor tales
Manish Dubey*, 29, marketing executive in Kolkata
“I was admitted to the hospital yesterday after being diagnosed with H1N1. It is just like any other flu. Initially I had slight fever but right now I only have a bad cold and sore throat. The doctors said that I will have to remain here for a few more days but after that it will be fine. I’m free to do everything in the quarantined space. I have my laptop and mobile phone to keep me company. I’m already getting better with a day’s medication. There’s nothing that serious about ‘this’ flu.”
Preshita Padhye, 15, school student in Pune
“I had fever on July 25 and was advised to take a swine flu test. I tested positive and was admitted to the isolation ward on July 27. I took medicines and proper rest. By August 7, with about 10 days of rest-time, I was up and running.”
Tags: h1n1, Health India, Swine Flu, Swine Flu India, Swine Flu Myths, Swine Flu Test
the swine flu is jsut another type of flu exept it mutated into h1n1 and now every 1 is overreacting and people die of it becasue they have health problems anyway