Principal Secretary Health Ali Raza Rizvi assured that effective steps were being taken to create mass awareness about Swine Flu as adopting preventive measures was vital in avoiding this viral infection. He said that Swine Flu spread to human beings by Influenza A (H1N1) virus through affected air.
Rizvi appealed the people to cover the mouth and nose during cough and sneeze, avoid touching mouth and nose and clean hands with soap and water besides avoiding close contact at least three feet with people who might be suffering from Swine Flu. He advised the people to practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food and being active. Infected mothers should use masks during breast feeding.
He advised the people not to go in crowded places, to not spit in public places, not take medicines without consulting a physician and to avoid handshake and hug in greeting with infected people. He said that temperature, cough, pain in throat, headache, body ache, tiredness, problem in breathing, vomiting etc. were common symptoms of Swine Flu. He advised the people to consult a physician or go to nearby health centre in case of any symptom appeared.
Principal Secretary Health said that there had been a significant decrease in number of Swine Flu cases since few days adding that two patients at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla and two at PGI had died due to Swine Flu so far.