Swine Flu – DPS, St Marys, Bishops, Vibgyor and All schools in Pune till 16th August 2009!!!

Updated at 5:00pm on 10th Aug 2009.

DPS school Pune closed till 17th august 2009.

All malls, schools, multiplexes will remain closed for three days as per the government orders. Phew !!! Finally . Bloodshed has to happen to even save our lives. Still there are a few thick-heads who are advising the schools to remain open. We must find out if their kids are in any of the affected city or have they packed off to their kids to a monsoon break to some hill station or abroad ! Don’t they understand simple logic of quarantine?

A minimum of 7 days of total shutting down of the city is all that is needed to eradicate this H1N1 virus. So is 7 days asking too much as compared to hundreds of lives that they are staking? How much sense is lacking in the people WE have chosen?

Ok now if the govt. authorities are like duh… People , use your common sense. Choose between a week of shopping at malls / movie halls /socializing OR be ready to get infected. Is this a rocket science?

Written on 10th august at 1:05am

All schools in Pune will be closed till 16th August 2009, by the order of the Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, if the school is willing.

Thank you dear authorities for better late than never sense which prevailed to save the kids from getting infected and saving the poor parents from the dilemma of whether to send their kids to the school or not !
I wish a month back this step was taken preemptively, but Pune people learn things the HARD way always!
Anyways since I have not been sending both my kids to the school even before the schools declared to close down, I am extremely pleased for the step I took.

Sadly there are two kids infected in St Mary’s 1D and one child from DPS. The kids who did go to the school last week have been exposed to the H1N1 virus. My advice to parents of these kids whose kids went to the school until last week, kindly check your kid’s throat every morning yourself. If there is even a slightest redness or soreness visible, get him tested. This you must do till the seven days from the day your child stopped going to the school.

Read this for detailed reason. What if you came in contact with swine flu affected person ?

A few steps for all the worried parents:

*First thing first, get your kid tested.

*Avoid sending your kid out anywhere.

*Keep other members in the house away from your kid to prevent any other member getting infected, cause you still do not know if your kid is infected or not.

*Order Tamiflu online, as there is shortage of the capsules. Order Online Tamiflu.

*Make hot chicken soup with lots of whole garam masala and fresh ginger garlic for the kid to drink. This will not cure the swine flu, but will provide good strength and stamina to fight the virus.

*Do not hide the fact from anyone if your kid is infected. Its criminal offence to hide the disease and let other innocent people come in contact with the virus. On the other hand, sharing the information, keeping the kid in isolation will actually hurry up your kid’s recovery.

*If infected or have any doubt that your kid is infected, please make him/her wear Mask N95 only. The other masks are useless and do not prevent the virus from spreading. Other members in the house must also wear the N95 Mask.

*Keep all maids, drivers, workers away from your child till your child recovers.

It’s this category of people who should not get infected, else the real Pandemic will show up ! Thankfully only the upper class is infected due to their globetrotting. And since upper class have the money and resource, the disease can be controlled in Pune to the level of epidemic. If the lower class gets affected, the virus will do the deadly taandav and show its ugliest form. One maid or one driver will infect his whole family and neighbors within one single day as they live in congested rooms and slums. Definitely they will not afford Rs 5000/- worth Tamiflu! And then the result is something we don’t want to see.

SO PLEASE KEEP YOUR DRIVERS? MAIDS away from anyone infected with the Swine flu in your home. DO the cooking/ cleaning / driving for the infected kid yourself. Another option can be to see that these helpers if they are in contact with the infected person stay in the same house premise. This will at least prevent spreading of the virus. Then if any symptom arises, admit the person to the hospital that can handle swine flu.

These are all advice from non medical person, so kindly do not avoid going to the doctor if any symptom arise. You should take a doctor’s advice before taking Tamiflu.

*I pray for the speedy recovery of all the kids. May I request the parents to not send their kids to any day care, playschools, activity classes or even movies and malls.
It’s tough to keep them home, so sending to known friends who do not have any flu or running nose should be wise. Mothers at home can continue with the daily studies for an hour or two. There are several online games that you can allow kids to play to keep them busy.

You parents can use this time to bond with your children and teach all about viral flu etc. Check out good sites that easily explain it. http://www.X-plain.com. Check out online stories or activities . I like http://www.starfall.com.
Paint, draw play with your child and make the most of this break. Be thankful that you are lucky to be healthy and fit.

SWINE FLU precautionary move — St Mary’s School Pune closes !!

St Mary’s school, pune will be closed from 6th to 9th August 2009 as a precautionary measure against Swine Flu.

School will assess the situation on Sunday to decide whether to reopen on Monday 10th August.

Even though no case of H1N1 virus was detected in St Mary’s School Pune, the management took this wonderful step to prevent any spreading of the disease amongst it’s students.

All Schools must close down for a week just to ensure the kids stay at home and do not get in contact with any one who is a carrier of H1N1. A week’s holiday will not make much of a difference in the life, as compared to endangering lives of small kids who are most susceptible to H1N1 virus.
Also parents should take the decision independently, as to what is more precious to them, the stress of sending the children to school now when ideally all schools should be closed down or to wait till the school declares holiday !

Schools in Pune close down from 7th Aug 2009

Read Swine-flu-is-villainous

Swine Flu is known to infect the children more than the adults.

The International Center for Infectious Diseases states the following:

1. What is Swine Flu ?

It is a form of influenza that infects respiratory organs.

2. Why is it dangerous?

a) Virulence – how quickly and spreads easily – H1N1 Virus spreads quickly.

b) How much tissue damage the virus causes resulting in severe illness or death – H1N1 virus seems to be quite damaging to the tissue

3. Why is the Swine Flu from Mexico considered to be a threat?

It’s a strain of influenza that results in the deaths of young healthy individuals.

1 in 1000 individuals who get ill with this flu will die, as per the data available from Mexico.

4. What are the symptoms of H1N1 viral flu?

a) Fever often upto 104 degree Fahrenheit.

b) Chills

c) Severe muscle pain

d) Headache

e) Cough which is often non-productive in normal people. Those with previous respiratory infection, symptoms may worsen.

f) Nasal discharge and stuffiness or a sore throat in few

g) Fatigue, often sever lasting from 7 to 10 days

h) Diarrhea in few

i) Any one already suffering from heart or lung related disease may notice their symptoms worsening.

How does this virus spread and infect?

Through droplets of saliva or running nose , transmitted by coughing, talking and sneezing.
The virus enters through nose when it’s breathed in especially in a crowded place like schools, bus, malls, restaurants or movie halls etc.
Through eyes or mouth when virus is touched by hand. (That is why thorough washing reduces risk).

2) When is someone with influenza most infectious?

After getting in touch with the virus, there is an incubation period of 2 – 5 days which is short. In case you cross 7 days after coming in contact with an infected person safely, it’s rare to get ill with this flu.

The virus is maximum in quantity within 24 hours of getting ill. It’s quantity reduces after 2-3 days, making lesser chance of infecting others.

3) How effective are masks in spreading the virus?

Not much effective .

Wearing a mask N95 mask, which fit tightly on the face can be effective when you are caring an infected person or when you are sick with the flu. N95 reduces the rate of spreading of the virus through nose and mouth by 80-90%, when worn by infected individuals.

A healthy person wearing the mask is not protected.

4) Flu shot in 2008?

No information is available that flu shot taken in 2008 will prevent one from this virus.

5) What and how effective are the current drugs?

No study on how effective the current drugs are on this virus.
But past studies in Canada of these drugs suggest:
Osteltamivir ( Tamiflu) taken orally
Zanamivir by inhalation
can prevent this flu if you are exposed or help in recovery and prevent seriousness.
The effect of these two drugs on H1N1 is still not very sure that they can prevent death.

Where-to-buy-medicine-for-swine-flu

6) Can I get swine flu from eating pork?

No

7) Does Quarantine work as a strategy to prevent spread of the flu?

Following strategies have helped to prevent spread of the flu:
a) Dispersion of crowds

b) Closing down of school/ workplaces/ tamples/ churches/ mosques/ movie halls/ public places.

c) Avoiding travelling / holidaying during this phase to prevent spread or getting infected.

d) Encouraging infected people to stay at home.

e) Air travel does increase chances of getting infected due to re-breathing of air.

For detailed report visit www.icid.com
email info@icid.com
contact Dr Allan Ronald, ICID, Canada

GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZED HOSPITALS FOR TREATMENT OF SWINE FLU
City
Hospital Address Contact
Chennai
King Institute of Preventive Medicine (24/7 Service)
Guindy, Chennai – 32
(044) 22501520, 22501521 & 22501522
Communicable Diseases Hospital
Thondiarpet, Chennai
(044) 25912686/87/88, 9444459543

Government General Hospital
Opp. Central Railway Station, Chennai – 03
(044) 25305000, 25305723, 25305721, 25330300

Pune
Naidu Hospital
Nr Le’Meridian, Raja Bahadur Mill, GPO, Pune – 01
(020) 26058243

National Institute of Virology
20A Ambedkar Road , Pune – 11
(020) 26006290

Difference between common flu and swine flu

Kolkata
ID Hospital
57,Beliaghata, Beliaghata Road , Kolkata – 10‎
(033) 23701252

Coimbatore
Government General Hospital
Near Railway Station,
Trichy Road, Coimbatore – 18
(0422) 2301393, 2301394, 2301395, 2301396

Hyderabad
Govt. General and Chest Diseases Hospital ,
Erragadda, Hyderabad
(040) 23814939

Mumbai
Kasturba Gandhi Hospital
Arthur Road, N M Joshi Marg, Jacob Circle , Mumbai – 11
(022) 23083901, 23092458, 23004512
Sir J J Hospital
J J Marg, Byculla, Mumbai – 08
(022) 23735555, 23739031, 23760943, 23768400 / 23731144 / 5555 / 23701393 / 1366

Haffkine Institute
Acharya Donde Marg, Parel, Mumbai – 12
(022) 24160947, 24160961, 24160962

Kochi
Government Medical College
Gandhi Nagar P O, Kottayam – 08
(0481) 2597311,2597312
Government Medical College
Vandanam P O, Allapuzha – 05
(0477) 2282015

Taluk Hospital
Railway Station Road , Alwaye, Ernakulam
(0484) 2624040 Sathyajit – 09847840051

Taluk Hospital
Perumbavoor PO , Ernakulam 542
(0484) 2523138 Vipin – 09447305200

Gurgaon &;
Delhi
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
Ansari Nagar, Aurobindo Marg Ring Road , New Delhi – 29
(011) 26594404, 26861698 Prof. R C Deka – 9868397464

National Institute for Communicable Diseases
22, Sham Nath Marg,
New Delhi – 54
(011) 23971272/060/344/524/449/326

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
Kharak Singh Marg,
New Delhi – 01
(011) 23741640, 23741649, 23741639

Dr. N K Chaturvedi – 9811101704
Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute
University Enclave, New Delhi- 07
(011) 27667102, 27667441, 27667667, 27666182

Bangalore
Victoria Hospital
K R Market, Kalasipalayam, Bangalore – 02
(080) 26703294 Dr. Gangadhar – 94480-49863

SDS Tuberculosis & Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases
Hosur Road, Hombegowda Nagar, Bangalore – 29
(080) 26631923 Dr. Shivaraj – 99801-48780

also see this site http://www.parentree.in/Parentree-editors/journal-1301/Swine-flu–H1N1—-Pregnancy—Precautions–Symptoms–What-to-do—.html

http://www.parentree.in/Parentree-editors/journal-1302/Swine-flu–H1N1—-Babies-and-Children—Precautions–Symptoms–What-to-do—.html

SWINE flu is villainous !!!!

I have decided from today both my kids will stay at home for a week or two.

Reason, firstly , I think that’s the best way to prevent my kids from getting infected even if there is any remotest chance. They travel by school bus and definitely there is a good chance of getting in contact with dormant Swine flu virus. Since there is still no confirmed report on whether a person who has been cured of Swine flu may or may not be a carrier of the virus. What if the cured person IS a carrier of the virus? Then for next 5-10 days he /she will be easily infecting another 100 person who comes in contact. I as a mother do not wish to live in stress wondering what if’s .

In my opinion, if I were the Mayor or District Magistrate or any one in authority of Pune city, would have closed down all the schools, colleges for 15 days. Since as per the statistics the Swine Flu is infecting more kids than adults, it makes sense to keep the KIDS AT HOME. Citizens of Pune should be restricted to public places like Malls, multiplexes and restaurants as these places are the best places to get infected. Even going to the hospitals should be avoided unless emergency situation calls for going to the hospital.

My son’s classmate was down with fever for seven days. The paediatrician asked the mother to get him tested for Swine Flu. She went to the Naidu hospital which is authorised to do the test in Pune. There the hospital returned her back saying that we will not test everyone who comes here for Swine Flu ! Shocked mother came back and was very upset. Had I been there I would have taken the Naidu hospital to press and made their life hell for being negligent.

My request to all parents. Go by your instinct. If you have slightest doubt, stop your child from going to school and public places. And get him/her tested for the virus. Early detection is better than rushing in the last moment, knowing very well that Tamiflu, the only drug is not easily available in Pune, even in black.
One to two weeks of holiday from school will not matter anything. You have all the portions and books, you can very well teach at home. Working parents will have trouble taking this decision, but the trade off is between the short term trouble of taking off from the office or life long crying…

I am very upset with Dr Gosh from National Institute of Virology, Pune. In the process of calming the parents he passed an uninformed message to the parents about the Swine Flu. He may be right in saying that parents should not be panicked, but he should not have said that it’s like any other virus and getting infected is ok !

So parents without creating a havoc around you, listen to your instincts. DO not send the child to the school for a week. Wait and watch. Talk to the school is they can close down the school.

Two years back my son was suffering from fever for 10 days. I got him to Dr Sewani of Kalyani Nagar, Pune. She said, it’s nothing to worry about and sent me away. But my instincts told me some thing was not right, as my son was blabbering nonsense in his feverish sleep. I got his blood tested elsewhere. He was detected as suffering of Dengue !!!! SO my instinct did come true.

The passage below was written when we were called to the school by National Institute Of Virology ‘s talk on Swine Flu.

Today, we were called to the St Mary’s school for a presentation on SWINE FLU.
Thanks a ton St Mary’s Management for pre-emptive step taken.
DPS also had last week sent a circular about SWINE FLU and requested parents to not send their kids if any had any kind of fever. These measures are very reassuring for parents, as it proves our kids are going from one safe hand to another :). Also, it takes care of the psychology of many over protective/ carefree parents.

It’s just another variant of flu virus. It’s symptoms are all similar to the other viral flu that our kids keep encountering.

Just be careful and take the child to a good paediatrician if the child has SEVERE CHILL , shivering and redness of eyes , followed with high fever.
Else treat this poor flu like any other viral fever. Do not panic, but keep the child at home to prevent him passing on the flu to others. One can wait for 2 days of fever and if the fever does not lower on the third day, then contact the doctor around.

The virus became a villain only because, when it was detected as a new virus in Mexico, the hosts died , but all had other major diseases to blame. Due to globetrotting, this virus reached India too, but it’s variant got diluted after it mixed with Indian viruses. But the virus is infecting kids more than adults. Hence preventing kids from becoming infected will control the disease in Pune.

How to prevent H1N1 Swine flu and any other flu :

1. Wash hands everytime you come home.

2. After kids are back from school or play give them a warm water bath.

3. Use tissue paper to wipe and throw in a dustbin.

4. DO NOT SEND YOUR KID TO SCHOOL FOR NEXT SEVEN DAYS.

That’s all it takes to prevent any virus from spreading ! 🙂

Do not try to cure any viral flu yourself, especially do not pop in any medicine yourself that is antibiotics ! Anyways no antibiotic can cure any viral flu as antibiotics are for bacterias , not for viruses :).

A good site http://www.parentree.in/Parentree-editors/journal-1302/Swine-flu–H1N1—-Babies-and-Children—Precautions–Symptoms–What-to-do—.html

To know or report about SWINE FLU contact :
www.niv.co.in

www.edc.org

Dr. Ms. Chadha
Deputy Dir- Influenza
Ph Nos – 020-26006247 / 26006217
email add – basua@icmt.org. in