No chillin’ out this winter

Experts: A mutant version of the swine flu virus may hit India when the mercury drops

No chillin' out this winter

Experts: A mutant version of the swine flu virus may hit India when the mercury drops

If the long Indian summer saved you from the first outbreak of the swine flu virus, the winter may not bring the same tidings.

A mutated version, which according to experts will be more dangerous, may hit the Indian soil as soon as the mercury goes down, warned the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
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"This virus has characteristics of those found in humans, birds and pigs. Human and bird flu viruses have shown that they spread rapidly at low temperature," said NDMA member Lt Gen (Retd) JR Bhardwaj.
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He warned that the virus in a mutated form would be back to hit the world. "No time limit can be put to the spread of the virus.
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The most important thing is to put our defences in place," NDMA vice-chairman Gen (Retd) NC Vij told a meeting of various representatives from state and Central governments.
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"Our focus is to bring all the states and ministries on a common platform to discuss the preventive measures in case of a pandemic situation.

The disease, if it spreads, will do so rapidly and it is very important to avoid any panic. We want to join efforts to contain the spread of the deadly disease," said Bhardwaj.

Lt Gen Bhardwaj added: "The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a level five alert for swine flu but the virus can easily mutate to level six which means more than 35 per cent of the world's population may get affected.

There is a three-month latency period between the two stages, which means that we are in the midst of it.

In view of the huge number of people moving around the world it is very important to take all the necessary steps."
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The NDMA has advised states with sub-normal temperatures Jammu & Kashmir and Northeastern states to take extra precautions.

States that attract most tourists Goa, the Northeast region and J&K have also been asked to take extra precautions by assuring quarantine facility and screening of international passengers.
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Similar directives have been issued to the Health Ministry, Home Ministry, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Surface Transport and Shipping.
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"The NDMA has issued guidelines to every one concerned. The Health Ministry has also assured a huge stock of TamiFlu (anti-swine flu medicine) in consultation with pharmaceutical companies," said Maj Gen JK Bansal, member, NDMA.

The actual name of swine flu is Mecian flu and in medical terminology the strain of the virus is known as H1N1.
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Transmission of the virus from pigs to human is not common and does not always cause human influenza.

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