SRINAGAR: Dispelling the suspicion among parents that their children might be infected by swine flu, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in New Delhi have been found all the samples taken from these children negative for swine flu.
The samples taken by the epidemiology division of the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, (DHSK) on March 16 were sent to the NCDC for identification of the virus, which had infected over 68 children at Pethkot village of north Kashmirs Bandipora district, reported Chandigarh based English daily – The Tribune.
The report said that the samples were taken from children who were suffering from fever, cough, sore throat, and nasal catarrh. The doctors had suspected that the children were infected by influenza-A H1N1 (swine flu).
However, the NCDC report accessed by The Tribune has revealed that the samples taken from children in the age group of two to 13 years were found negative for influenza A and B, said the report.
Thousands of children in the Valley have been infected by the viral disease from the last three weeks, with the lone children hospital in Sonawar, Srinagar, witnessing a daily rush of kids infected by the disease.
We had sent the samples of suspected swine flu cases to the NCDC. Fortunately, all the six cases have been declared negative and there is no chance of any epidemic, SM Qadri, state surveillance officer was quoted by the newspaper.
Qadri said the prevalent viral infection in Kashmir was not fatal and wouldnt lead to health complications.
He said the people should not panic and the infection would go within two weeks. It is a normal flu and cant lead to health complications. People should avoid taking antibiotics, he said.
Acting swiftly so that parents do not panic the doctors and the health services department issued daily advisory for parents and children to take precautionary measures to prevent the infection from spreading.
Unlike earlier when rumours about Polio had created panic among the people here, this time the health department and doctors were successful to prevent such a panic grip the people in the Valley. (KNS)
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