Swine Flu Panic: Are We Overreacting? Insights from an Expert on Staying Calm

Received this in the mail... Dr. Deepak Purohit has the following to say on Swine Flu panic:

These are a few facts about swine flu when discussed with the leading epidemiologists.

1) Swine flu, that is H1N1 flu, is not new; first detected in 1987.

2) The infective stage of flu is 5 days, 1 day before and 4 days after the onset of symptoms.

3) The best way to prevent its spreading is by asking patients with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and a runny nose to rest at home for 4 days so they do not transmit it.

4) Masks are of limited value, if any, in this disease. It can spread through droplets on your skin, through contact, etc. I have seen that the masks in Pune are worn as a fashion statement. While walking on the road this morning, I saw people wearing masks coming out for a morning walk with their dogs! Many were wearing masks around their necks and so on. In fact, these masks can act as vehicles to carry the virus. Instead, avoiding crowded places or cinema halls or malls where air conditioners are on is advisable, as recirculated air multiplies the virus density.

5) Death after H1N1 flu is not common. In fact, infections like measles take a toll of thousands more every year, and we are oblivious to the facts. Swine flu is being blown out of proportion by the media, trying to create hysteria among laypeople.

6) Fever accompanied by respiratory distress should be immediately notified, as it is likely a complication of H1N1 flu.

7) The mortality is less than 0.01 percent of those affected, meaning maybe one in 10,000 affected is likely to suffer a loss of life.

If you remember, 2 years ago SARS was blown out of proportion. What happened? Humans develop immunity to the virus. The same is going to happen with this. We will develop immunity in due course of time. The virus is in the air, you cannot stop it. Our bodies are already developing immunity, so there is nothing to panic about.

We need to take care of children and the elderly who have less immunity and not let them go to crowded places, that is all.

WE MUST START THIS CAMPAIGN OF NOT BEING AFRAID OF THIS FLU AND LETTING YOUR DAILY WORK CONTINUE AS NORMAL. NO MASKS FOR ORDINARY CITIZENS; HEALTHCARE WORKERS OR THOSE SPECIFICALLY EXPOSED TO CROWDED ENVIRONMENTS MAY BENEFIT, BUT IT IS NOT PROVEN.

I am amazed to hear that people are selling masks for RS 20 each, which are available for less than Rupee 1 in the market. See who is benefiting?

Please spread the scientific info; do not join the bandwagon and stick to science. That should be the order of the day.

Deepak Purohit District Governor 3131

-- Rtn Dr. Deepak Purohit DG 09/10 Dist 3131 Purohit Clinic, Plot 78, MCCHS Panvel, Maharashtra India

Thoughts expressed are quite logical and convincing. Instead of applying the mind rationally and using the opportunity to effectively check and control the spread of the epidemic, there seems to be a lot of tear-jerking stories and rumors, all resulting in creating a panic-like situation.

Well done Himaji :icon1:

Dear Friends,

I agree we need to delink the panic and fear. Between panic and complacency, there is vigilance. Everyone should be vigilant to prevent the virus from spreading further. Safeguarding others by spreading the message is as important as safeguarding yourself. The more the virus spreads, the higher the probability of you getting affected. Please spread scientific information, do not join the bandwagon, and stick to science; that should be the order of the day.

Thanks for sharing the info,
Hima

Hello friends, please go through the attachment and spread the information as much as you can.

Today, I have received the following:

Here are some practices that were followed in countries affected by Swine Flu:

Individual:

The US recommends maintaining a 6ft distance from infected people. Those infected should use handkerchiefs while sneezing/coughing. The virus can survive on normal surfaces for up to 8 hours.

Treatment:

Tamiflu use is regulated to prevent resistance from developing. In the US, Tamiflu is available only by prescription and used in confirmed cases. The UK is also following the same practice.

Targeting:

High-risk categories - pregnant women, infants and children, people with cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions, HIV-affected individuals - are given prioritized care.

Community:

Closing down schools or stopping other gatherings doesn't work. Face masks are not considered very useful for non-infected individuals. Instead, infected individuals should wear masks to prevent contaminating others.

Awareness:

TV, internet, mobiles, etc., are used by governments to educate people. This is seen as the single most important measure for checking the disease. Many countries have undertaken door-to-door contact tracing by health workers.

Few things that we can do to avoid getting infected:

Please avoid traveling to cities affected by Swine Flu. As per the latest reports - Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, and recently Chennai.

Do not ignore if you have symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, cold, and a running nose. Approach your doctor at the earliest.

Avoid long-distance travel unless extremely necessary.

Those returning from countries abroad - please ensure that you are not infected before returning to work.

Avoid crowded places like Cinema Halls, Railway stations, and shopping malls.

Refrain from shaking hands. Avoid sharing food or kitchenware.