Karachi faces swine flu threat after 11 die in Punjab

KARACHI: The Health Department has issued a swine flu alert for the city after death toll in the Punjab province rises to 11 on Friday.

A notification has been issued in which heads and medical superintendents of public and private hospitals are instructed to establish isolation wards in healthcare centers to deal with suspected swine flu influenza virus (H1N1) cases.

The administration of Civil Hospital Karachi has also been directed to make its Influenza Lab operational.

The recent deaths by the virus are reported from Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi cities of Punjab.

The necessary directives were issued to all personnel dealing with suspected cases to adopt the preventive measures. Hospital heads are directed to inform the health department if any suspected swine flu case is reported in their respective institutions.

The swine flu virus mostly attack weaker and less immune people. H1N1 virus of swine flu contains a combination of genes from swine, avian (bird), and human influenza viruses. Mild symptoms of the disease might include fever, sore throat, cough, headache, muscle or joint pains, and nausea and vomiting, or diarrhea.