ISLAMABAD: Following growing panic among citizens regarding swine flu, the national health services (NHS) ministry has issued an advisory stating that people should not panic, as there is to this date no evidence of any major mutation in the virus that could result in an unusual morbidity or mortality.

Swine influenza or influenza A-(H1N1), known colloquially as pig influenza or swine flu, is an infection caused by various kinds of viruses.

The disease is endemic in pigs, and can be transferred to humans, after which it can be contracted by one human from another.

According to a health advisory, seasonal influenza viruses can cause mild to severe illness and even death in some high risk individuals.

In temperate climates, the disease tends to occur seasonally in the winter months, and spreads from one person to another through sneezing, coughing and contact with contaminated surfaces.

The statement said people at the increased risk for severe bouts included pregnant women, as well as very young or very elderly people, immune compromised people, people with chronic underlying medical conditions and those with respiratory diseases.

Disease tends to occur seasonally in winter and spreads from one person to another through sneezing, coughing and contact with contaminated surfaces

“Seasonal influenza viruses evolve continuously, which means that people can get infected multiple times. Currently, influenza A-(H1N1) and A-(H3N2) are the circulating seasonal influenza A-virus subtypes in different parts of Pakistan, including Punjab, Islamabad and KP,” it added.

It said health departments have adequate stockpiles of oseltamivir or tamiflu, which can help decrease the mortality if given during the first three days of illness.

High risk individuals can also be vaccinated with a vaccine available in the market, which provides protection against influenza A-(H1N1), or swine flu. As such, swine flu has been declared a seasonal flu since 2010 and the virus has causing multiple regional outbreaks in various countries, including Pakistan.

The advisory says that in the event that a suspected case with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) is detected by medical professionals, a throat swab sample should be collected immediately and sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) or an accredited laboratory in viral transport medium (VTM), which is providing free of cost diagnostic services for swine flu.

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) vice chancellor Dr Javed Akram told Dawn that the virus affected the lungs and decreased blood platelets.

“Patients can die because of oxygen deficiency. Health staff is also vulnerable to the disease, so special clothing is required for them. The patient is kept in the isolation ward and negative pressure is created through vacuums to ensure that the virus does not leave the isolation ward, as the virus stays in the air and enters other people’s systems when they breathe,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2016