Claiming a total of seven victims to date, the death toll of swine flu in the Kingdom has reached an all-time high in comparison with the rest of the Middle East. Strategies to curb this pandemic are being introduced every day by the authorities. The “Infection Control Lecture on Swine Flu”, organized at the New Jeddah Clinic Hospital on Wednesday, was therefore timely and offered an insight into the world of medical professionals that are on the frontline of the anti-swine flu movement. Dr. Mani Srinivasan is a prominent medical personality in the US, who has been working extensively with the swine flu research team. He delivered a simple yet effective presentation on the phenomenon of swine flu, focusing mainly on its vaccine and treatment. Symptoms and contagion The symptoms of swine flu, Dr. Srinivasan indicated, are similar to the regular flu or cold. These include a scratchy throat, runny nose, fever, body ache, and in rare cases, diarrhea, and these normally last from five to seven days, on average. He explained that the swine flu virus spreads in the same way as ordinary colds as the mode of transmission is droplets. So if someone sneezes or coughs without covering, the virus can infect anyone within a three-foot radius. He also elaborated in certain trends as far as susceptibility to infection is concerned, with pregnant women, toddler and patients suffering from chronic illnesses of the lungs, heart, kidneys or liver being the most susceptible. Prevention is better than cure According to Dr. Srinivasan's research, the swine flu virus can live on hard surfaces for up to 24 hours, whereas its life period on soft surfaces is as short as 20 minutes. Therefore, it is imperative to disinfect all hard surfaces regularly including floors, wood or metal furniture, and door handles. He also stressed on personal hygiene to avoid contracting the infection. “Either hand-rubs with alcohol or soap and water should be used on a regular basis. Currently, there are no studies to show which method is better,” he explained. Hand sanitizers are an alternate to soap and water where these facilities are unavailable, and he added that all dirty tissues must be disposed immediately after use. The debate over the use of masks continued with Dr. Srinivisan noting that people almost always remove their masks to cough or sneeze, defeating the purpose of wearing one. “Additionally, there is no scientific evidence that wearing masks in public places is an effective preventive measure,” he said. All health authorities recommend that those who are infected or suspected to be infected should be quarantined to curb the spread of the infection. Dr. Srinivasan stressed this point again; strongly advising against interacting with people who are infected. “Avoid all contact for the duration of their treatment,” he suggested. The all-important issue of treatment Currently, there are two main drugs being used in treatment of those who are infected with the virus: Tamiflu and Relenza. Tamiflu is administered orally and can be used by any infected patient, while Relenza is an inhaled drug that is used by pregnant women or patients with kidney diseases. Dr. Srinivisan admitted that there are several side effects to these drugs. Normally, only a single drug out of the two is used at one time in the treatment process. However, in critical cases, both drugs as well as some others may be administered to the patient. Moreover, antivirals also relieve symptoms and reduce the potential for complications. Another issue is what one does if one has been exposed to the virus. If you think that you have been exposed, said Dr. Srinivasan, consult a physician first. It is not advisable to use the drugs without a prescription. This is because it is dangerous and also because the more people use the drug, the more resistant the virus will become to its effects. Dr. Srinivisan also spoke about the vaccine, indicating that high-priority groups for vaccination are decided at the discretion of individual governments, but that pregnant women, children under the age of five, health personnel, and patients with compromised immune systems would probably be given a head start. Dr. Mani Srinivasan is a specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. He is accredited by the American Board of Internal Medicine, a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the Royal Society of Medicine (UK). He is part of the A(H1N1) group in the US and focuses on the misuse of antibiotics in treatment.
