People Who are at Greater Risk of Swine Flu

A crucial  finding by clinicians  in Mexico, the country where the deadly  H1N1 virus originated, could have worried India.

Initial observations made by the WHO, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Mexicans clinicians who studied the first 40 deaths in Mexico show that people with underlying conditions like asthma, cardiovascular diseases(CVD), HIV ,diabetes and TB diseases appear to be at  greater risk of hospitalisation or death if infected with H1N1.

India  having around 150 cases of swine flu out of which many are confirmed positive of H1N1 virus is taking precautionary steps for controlling the outbreak of this virus. The country is home to 2.35 million HIV positive and 15 million asthmatics.CVDs have become the leading cause of death with heart attacks projected to kill 2 million people by 2010.

Even the experts said the findings were preliminary, they agreed that a few trend has begun to emerge. V M Katoch,ICMR’s Director General has said”People with  asthma, cardiovascular diseases(CVD), HIV ,diabetes and TB are in high risk group. They have to be better looked in case of positive infection.”

Outbreak of H1N1 could pose a big threat on the Indian society as we have a very large number of such people.   So  it is very important to take constructive steps regarding this issue both by the Indian government and WHO.