24 H1N1 cases treated at hospital: SKIMS director

Srinagar, November 18

Dr AG Ahangar, Director, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, today said that 24 H1N1 influenza cases had been treated at the hospital.

He said the virus spreads in the Valley during autumn and winter as the temperature dips. The SKIMS Director said people should take precautions in advance.

“The viral surge in the atmosphere leads to increased incidence of such infections, forcing people to take necessary precautions in order to avoid the escalation and spread of such infectious diseases,” Dr Ahangar said.

He said no part of the world was immune to such epidemics, least of all the Valley, which was unfortunately facing a slight surge in swine flu. He said SKIMS was bearing the maximum brunt of swine flu patients as it provided tertiary care facilities.

“The other peripheral healthcare institutions of the Valley choose to refer patients to SKIMS rather than treat them at their respective hospitals despite availability of infrastructure and other facility for managing these patients at the primary and secondary level,” Dr Ahangar said at a press conference this evening.

He said the Directorate of Health Services had issued an advisory in this regard for educating the people. He said SKIMS had treated 24 H1N1 positive cases so far. Of them 12 have been discharged and five are under treatment, he said. — TNS