Swine and the city

Is Bangalore doing a Pune and hitting the panic button? We spoke to a few doctors to find out how the city is coping with the swine flu scare

Is Bangalore doing a Pune and hitting the panic button? We spoke to a few doctors to find out how the city is coping with the swine flu scare

Here is what they told a MiD-DAY reporter.

THEREu00a0 has definitely been an increase in the number of patients visiting me. Most of the cases are common viral fever that occurs due to seasonal changes. Now that people have been hearing about swine flu, they've been panicking at the slightest signs of cough, cold and fever. My patients keep asking me questions related to swine flu, they just want to be sure. So far, I have come across only one case where I suspected swine flu I sent the patient for further tests.
Dr Girija Singh, general practitioner

My clinic is packed these days but most are viral fever cases. The reason behind viral fever could be anything from weather changes, global warming or it could even be due to unclean environment. Swineu00a0 flu has created panic everywhere and the fact that it has symptoms similar to viral fever does not really help patients. I have not come across any case of swine flu so far, though my patients who want to travel abroad call to find out about safety measures. Also, patients want to find out if it is okay for their relatives to visit India.
Dr Karunanithi, general practitioner

Mask of fear: Swine flu scare is spreading after the disease claimed its first victim in India pic/ ANIL NAIK

My patients are definitely keeping me busy these days. I have been attending to a lot more patients than I generally do. Most of the cases I attend to these days are of viral fever. I have also been attending to a few chikungunya cases. People are panicking and my patients keep asking me if the symptoms that they have is of dengue or swine flu. I have not come across any cases of swine flu and I believe there are not many cases either. Bangalore is relatively safe. Most people are getting viral fever because of the change in weather.
Dr Latha, general practitioner

I have not come across any case of swine flu. There has definitely been an increase in the number of patients, but it is general viral fever cases that we have been treating. It is the monsoon change. Patients are worried about contracting swine flu so they keep enquiring to make sure they are safe.
Dr Latha Singh, general practitioner

I have been treating a lot of patients lately but there has been nothing related to swine flu. I have had patients casually enquiring about swine flu and that's about it. There has definitely been an increase in infections due to seasonal change. General viral fever is spreading but otherwise, cases of swine flu are very less.
Dr Pendakur Anand, allergy specialist