New Delhi:
With temperatures dropping, the swine flu virus seems to have made a comeback. North India has seen a rise in the number of cases. The fear is that it could be a more virulent form.
These are nervous moments for Pixie. Her two-year-old son has been unwell for the past week. Her doctor finally recommended a swine flu test.
"When the doctor said we need a swine flu test, I got really scared. We have heard so many deaths happening due to it," said Pixie.
Delhi has seen an alarming rise in the number of swine flu cases - 360 cases just in the past two days, and 234 children among them. Four deaths were also reported.
A second wave was expected with the onset of winter, which could be far worse than what happened in July. This is not being described as that but the pressure is telling on the medical fraternity.
"Doctors are very busy. It is difficult to cope with the pressure. We heard that the labs are also choc a bloc now. The other day we sent 40 samples to them. Definitely we would need more manpower," said Vinod Sharma, Medical Superintendent, Madan Mohan Malviya Nagar Hospital.
After the upsurge in swine flu cases, several schools in the capital have shut down for a week. But doctors say, that unlike the first wave, this form of quarantine may not really help.
"These decisions are taken by schools in random. Now that the infection is in the community, there is no guarantee that by shutting the school for two days or a week it can be curbed," said Dr Anjan Prakash, Nodal Officer for Swine Flu, Delhi government.
So far the number of deaths in the country has gone past 600. Though the infection cannot be stopped, doctors are still stressing on early reporting to prevent deaths.
These are nervous moments for Pixie. Her two-year-old son has been unwell for the past week. Her doctor finally recommended a swine flu test.
"When the doctor said we need a swine flu test, I got really scared. We have heard so many deaths happening due to it," said Pixie.
Delhi has seen an alarming rise in the number of swine flu cases - 360 cases just in the past two days, and 234 children among them. Four deaths were also reported.
A second wave was expected with the onset of winter, which could be far worse than what happened in July. This is not being described as that but the pressure is telling on the medical fraternity.
"Doctors are very busy. It is difficult to cope with the pressure. We heard that the labs are also choc a bloc now. The other day we sent 40 samples to them. Definitely we would need more manpower," said Vinod Sharma, Medical Superintendent, Madan Mohan Malviya Nagar Hospital.
After the upsurge in swine flu cases, several schools in the capital have shut down for a week. But doctors say, that unlike the first wave, this form of quarantine may not really help.
"These decisions are taken by schools in random. Now that the infection is in the community, there is no guarantee that by shutting the school for two days or a week it can be curbed," said Dr Anjan Prakash, Nodal Officer for Swine Flu, Delhi government.
So far the number of deaths in the country has gone past 600. Though the infection cannot be stopped, doctors are still stressing on early reporting to prevent deaths.
