VK Singh urges strong precautions against swine flu

GHAZIABAD: BJP MP and Union Minister VK Singh has expressed concern over any incidence of swine flu in his constituency even as he urged that all precautionary measures should be available in the district hospital to deal with any eventualities in this regard.

Singh yesterday held detailed discussions with District Magistrate Vimal Kumar Sharma and Chief Medical Officer Dr Ajay Aggarwal on the matter.

The Ghaziabad MP, a former Army chief, said that a disease like swine flu must be taken seriously to prevent it from spreading across the district.

Sharma asked health authorities to launch an awareness drive for the masses to ensure there was no fear or panic among them.

District Malaria Officer Dr Gyanendra Kumar Mishra said that swine flu is an infection caused by Influenza A virus (sub-type H1N1) and spreads fast from infected persons through coughing and sneezing.

Major symptoms are fever, acute cold, cough, headache, body pain and sore throat. He advised people to seek medical care if they are sick.

The government has provided the Tamiflu medicine for 200 adults and 200 minors, Mishra added.

A 32-year-old woman from Ghaziabad was a few days back suspected to be infected with the swine flu virus and is currently undergoing treatment at RML Hospital.