AP: Monsoon brings back swine flu

HYDERABAD: Confirming the fears of medical experts that swine flu could be back this rainy season, two women, including a pregnant, tested positive for the H1N1 virus in the State capital on Wednesday. “They are the first positive cases since the onset of the monsoon,” Dr BL Veena Kumari, district medical and health officer, told Express.One of the women, a 45-year-old from Bellary was admitted to the swine flu ward of a private hospital on June 13 with symptoms like severe fever, cough and cold. The other patient, a pregnant from Tandur, was being treated in another private hospital.Dr K Subhakar, state coordinator, swine flu, said there was no indication of how lethal swine flu could become. “During the rainy and winter seasons, swine flu spreads faster. Every season, 10 per cent of the population is affected by common flu but it would be a cause of concern if the number rises to 25-30 per cent,” he said.  However, Veena Kumari asserted there was no need to panic. According to her, people need to be more vigilant and take precautionary measures. Elaborating on the steps being taken to check the spread of swine flu, she said surveillance and screening were a high priority.  “Special medical staff and testing centres are made available in different parts of the twin cities. Health centres had been alerted to stock up medicines,” she said.