Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS) With a surge in flu cases in the Indian capital, Delhi health officials Wednesday said people were staying away from taking immediate medical help even after showing symptoms of the disease.
“Despite all our efforts to make people aware that they should immediately approach the nearest hospital if they show swine flu-like symptoms, the majority are not following it. Delayed medical consultation by people is one of the reasons for increasing swine flu numbers in the capital,” Anjan Prakash, state nodal officer for swine flu, told IANS.

The national capital so far has reported 2,065 swine flu cases and of these 1,018 are children. Nine people have died of the H1N1 virus in Delhi.

According to health officials, people showing swine flu like symptoms - running nose, cough, fever, sneezing - are coming to doctors quite late.

“A school student reached the Safdarjung Hospital after seven days of fever, cough and cold. We can’t do much but request people to visit doctors immediately if they are unwell and follow the necessary precautions,” added Prakash.

The Delhi government had Tuesday announced the sale of Tamiflu, the anti-influenza medicine, at 28 authorised retail chemists outlets. The central government had last week allowed “restricted sale” of Tamiflu through over 500 chemists.

“The government has implemented the notification of the Indian government to allow sale of Tamiflu at the outlets of authorized Schedule ‘X’ chemists in the capital to facilitate the patients of swine flu as well as to curb the swine flu epidemic,” Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia said Tuesday.