Bisma Bhat
Srinagar, Nov 9: People with weak immunity and the ailing are more vulnerable to H1N1 virus, experts say.
The H1N1 or Swine Flu is now considered a seasonal flu.
Dr Parvez Koul, Professor of Internal & Pulmonary Medicine, said, “The people of Kashmir are as vulnerable as other people in the world. It mainly depends on individual’s immunity. The virus mostly survives in cold humid temperature.”
He said if a person with strong immunity gets affected with H1N1, the body can fight the virus of its own without any medicine.
“The age group mostly comprising of elderly people and children have weak immune system and are vulnerable to H1N1 influenza.”
Dr Munir Ahmad Lone, a General Physician, told The Kashmir Monitor that swine flu is contagious, which means it can spread easily from person to person.
“Person gets contaminated mainly by droplets of respiratory fluids sent through the air when someone infected coughs or sneezes and when other people inhale the airborne virus they become infected,” he said.
“The virus can also spread when a person travels to other states, where the disease is more common or when a foreigner brings the virus to Kashmir.”
Dr Munir said the people prone to “common influenza” should get examined by the doctor as early as possible, while parents should watch their children.
Quoting statistics, an official at SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) said, “At least 30 people died due to swine flu in Kashmir Valley, where a total of 147 cases were reported last winter season.”
The data further reveals that Kashmir witnessed its first H1N1 death in October.
Dr Saleem Tak, Medical Superintendent at the SMHS Hospital, said, “There is no need to panic. It is not as high as we have seen in the rest of the country. We have an adequate preparation to deal with H1N1.”
Tak said, “We have got everything in place, adequate number of vaccines, medicines, isolation kits, and personal protection gear. We are updated with whatever is recommended by the world health organization (WHO).”
