The Pakistan government confirmed the detection of the country’s first case of swine flu but said the patient had recovered and the disease was not transmitted further. The disease has been detected in one patient at the National Institute of Health Islamabad.

Federal Minister for Health Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani told the National Assembly that;

Out of 25 people tested for the virus ‘only one’ has been found infected with swine flu. The government has placed an order for the vaccine while Anti-viral drug Tami-flu is available in government hospitals to treat any patients of swine flu. Healthcare personnel have been trained to deal with the disease Health officers at international airports, seaports and border posts have been screening travelers. So far there no vaccine available in market for the virus and it will be imported as soon as it is becomes available. Thermal scanners are also being imported which will be installed at 10 places before the start of Hajj flights.

It is the high time for Pakistan government and health officials to take some serious steps towards the prevention of Swine Flu. WHO has already warned the world about the threats of its wide spread and called it “UNSTOPPABLE” but the Pakistani officials are too late to respond. The health minister wakes up when first case has been detected while he should be aware of the hazards of world wide spread of an incurable disease (at least for the time being) way before its arrival in Pakistan.

According to The Nation a young girl who dies in Lahore might also be a victim of Swine Flu.

A young girl, Fatima, (12) of Allama Iqbal Town, Lahore was rushed to Shaikh Zayed Hospital with high temperature and flu from which she had been suffering for the last four days. Dr Husnain while confirming the death of Fatima two days back expressed his opinion on the symptoms of the swine virus that might be the main cause of her death. He further claimed that according to the information provided by her uncle, she might have caught swine virus by either a passenger who arrived in Pakistan from swine flu-hit country or from other sources.

Follow the guide to Symptoms and Preventive Measures to protect yourself and others from the wide spread Flu ever before its too late.

Image: Dawn