Government Criticized for Careless Monitoring of H1N1 in Kashmir

A disease similar to swine flu broke out in the valley in 1978 and 1000 people have died. The reason for the out-break was the people who came and settled in the valley. The health officials reported that the epidemic had come through laborers and rag pickers who colonise most of the vacant lands and erect slums for their dwelling. The unhygienic lifestyle and susceptibility to communicable diseases may have been the reason as there has been no check on outsiders who come to the Valley every year in lakhs.

A group of doctors have been posted at Srinagar airport to identify tourists or travellers with swine flu, but no monitoring is being done on outsiders, who come to the Valley in trucks and buses. Criticism has been raised on the government for its failure to take the measures to check the spread of H1N1 deadly disease.

“These outsiders who live in slums under unhygienic conditions are prone to diseases and carry high risk of H1N1 diseases,” the medicos said.

Swine Flu has become a major health concern in Kashmir as well as 140 have been reported H1N1 positive and at least seven people have died.

“A proper screening should be done to these people to identify if they are infected with H1N1 virus or any another disease. Even we don’t know whether any one among them is H1N1 as they are not health conscious nor visit the hospitals and put a great threat to the local populace where stays-in,” the doctors said.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Rohit Kansal said, “I will raise this issue with the concerned officials.”

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Source-Medindia