Swine Flu in Barak Valley: 5 cases reported in Cachar, one dead in Hailakandi, Health Dept issues Alert

Several cases of swine flu infections have been reported in Barak Valley, including one death. In Cachar, currently, there are four active cases of patients infected by the flu who are undergoing treatment at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital. In Hailakandi, there has been one reported death of a 1.5-year-old. A high alert has been raised in both districts, and all the primary health centres have been asked to immediately report any such cases to the Directorate of Health Services.

In Hailakandi, a 1.5-year-old died on Monday morning after being infected by the flu. There are four active cases of the zoonotic disease infection in Cachar. Among them, three are infants between 3-5 months. The fourth patient is a 13-year-old, also infected by the H1N1. The health department has taken the matter with utmost importance and issued a warning.

Ashutosh Barman, the Joint Director of Health, Cachar speaking with Barak Bulletin informed, “There is no such outbreak. We have circulated the information to all the block PHCs to report any such cases if there are any. Till now there is no report, those three children, two from Dudhpatil and one from Uttar Krishnapur are undergoing treatment at SMCH and are in the recovery stage. We have also investigated the matter with the local health centres of these areas to find if there are any more cases, but there are none”.

Regarding the death of the child infected by the flu in Hailakandi, Nisarg Hivare, DC Hailakandi told Barak Bulletin, “There is no such outbreak in the district. There was one infection case which is an isolated one and H1N1 is a common influenza flu. As far as I know, the infected child was in contact with swine (pig) or that area had a swine population. our veterinary department also confirmed the same. There is no such outbreak in the district”,

Sources in the health department revealed an assessment is being undertaken to find the level of seriousness of the threat at the state level. Swine Flu of H1N1 is a highly contagious human respiratory infection caused by an influenza strain that started in pigs. It is a zoonotic influenza, which means it’s a disease caused by an animal influenza virus that can infect humans. Swine flu spreads by direct contact with infected pigs and through droplets created when people infected with the flu cough, sneeze, or talk.

The symptoms of Swine flu are similar to regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. The ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig mentions the following steps to protect yourself and others from swine flu:

1. Cover your nose and mouth with disposable tissue paper while coughing and sneezing
2. Dispose off used tissues very safely immediately after use
3. If you have flu-like symptoms, seek medical advice immediately
4. If you have flu-like symptoms, keep a distance of at least 1 meter from others
5. If you have flu-like symptoms stay at home and keep yourself away from crowded places.
6. Regularly wash your hands with soap and water
7. Disinfect your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizers
8. Avoid hugging, kissing and handshaking when greeting
9. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands