Swine flu on rise, yet GHMC says no to labs
Swine flu continues unabated in the state. After infecting almost 100 people in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts and around half a dozen people in Vizag, an engineering student in Mahbubnagar is the latest to have tested positive for swine flu on Tuesday. However, the state epidemic cell and GHMC officials say that bio-labs aren’t required as the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) is adequately equipped to test samples of all viral diseases.
Despite the GHMC being one of the biggest municipal corporations in the country, it is surprisingly not equipped with any bio-labs or team of biologists and all samples continue to be sent to IPM, which is already burdened with samples from the districts.
Dr Prasada Rao, joint director, State Epidemic Cell, said, “A bio-lab or a virology lab is a costly affair, and would require sophisticated testing equipment and highly qualified microbiologists. IPM is well-equipped to handle all the swine flu or other cases of viral diseases. Separate labs aren’t required.”
The concern, however, persists as the Andhra Pradesh Chest Hospital is not in a position to deal with swine flu cases owing to lack of infrastructure. Medical superintendent of AP Chest Hospital Dr P.N.S. Reddy said, “Although we are providing technical advice to hospitals, we are in no position to cater to swine flu victims like we did two years ago, due to lack of infrastructure and equipment like ventilators and inadequate power supply,” he said.
Meanwhile, state nodal officer for swine flu and professor of pulmonary medicine Dr K. Subhakar said, “Exercising individual caution like frequent hand-washing and improving one’s immunity through a balanced diet are more important in checking the spread of swine flu.” He also added, “The H1N1 virus is no longer an imported one, but having been in the environment for the past couple of years, people have developed herd immunity towards it. The virus has also not undergone mutation and is not as virulent as it was in 2009-2010. Its transmission rate has fallen from more than 22 per cent in 2009 to 15 per cent in 2012.”
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