Five new cases of swine flu were reported in a private hospital of the city in the first fortnight of January, according to an official of health department.
Director Health Karachi Dr Zafar Ejaz said five patients with swine-flu symptoms, who were tested at the outpatient department (OPD) of a private hospital, were found positive. However, none of them was admitted to the health facility as their condition was not serious.
According to sources, all the five swine flu affected patients had come to the city from Punjab province. Commissioner Karachi and Sindh health department had already announced an alert at hospitals and isolation wards have been set up in major hospitals of the city.
According to experts, swine flu virus mostly attack weak and less immune people. Mild symptoms of the disease might include fever, sore throat, cough, headache, muscle or joint pains, and nausea and vomiting, or diarrhoea, they added.
Elaborating, they said that initially this virus was discovered in pigs and transmitted to the human beings and from there this became a human virus which is contagious in nature and spreads through droplets like coughing, sneezing and using infected towels and handkerchief.
According media reports, 11 people had died, so far, from swine flu in Punjab.
Source: Medical News Pakistan