Monday, August 10, 2009

Pune under Swine Flu attack

Pune is under an electric grip of swine flu, and one can see people swathed in masks, milling around while doing the chores and running errands. There is a certain sense of fear that is understandable. To add to the panic, fresh instances of positive tested cases are being reported every day.

My organization has issued strict travel advisories and warnings and I'm taking them very seriously, restricting my movements to a bare minimum and putting off all non-essential travel within the city!

News is just in that a doctor in Pune and a boy in Chennai are the most recent casualties to have succumbed to the epidemic. The number of critical patients is going up!

Health Minister Gulab Nabi Azad's
statements over the weekend have done more harm than good. Now, with nearly 800 cases so far, across the country, the Prime Minister's Office has stepped in to take stock of the situation, amidst raging fears that the rate of contagion could be higher!

However, panic should be the last act, and people should focus on maintaining sanitation, avoiding public places and strictly effect necessary precautions to avoid contraction of the flu!

Although, it is difficult for me to say this, I must urge that all non-essential travel to Pune and other affected areas be postponed indefinitely. I also hope that this scourge subsides soon and that normalcy is returned in the lives of people, especially those who have been proximately affected by the outbreak.

For now, it is wait and watch, perhaps, the most excruciating part!

34 comments:

  1. Bad situation....in Delhi too,

    take care, Rak

    wishes,
    devika

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  2. The waves have begun to strike now here in Chennai also and sorry to know the Chennai boy is departed. I wish the situation doesn’t go worst throughout nation and the virus is killed before it kills many others.

    Take car bro.

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  3. Epidemics....one after the other! The Nation is in a grip of fear. The importance of proper hygiene and sanitation has been highlighted from time to time but we are lacking somewhere. Though one cannot foresee the attack of viruses(@one or two every year) we should be in a position to control the severity. I sincerely hope and pray that the spread of the disease is soon brought under control.
    Take care.

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  4. Stay safe dude. God bless everyone. Everybody here in Mumbai is on high alert as well.

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  5. We all in the whole world
    are high alert ;)
    Also here in The Netherlands ...
    Take care !!

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  6. Take care buddy... Stay alive... who will pay the beer bills then??

    HAHAHA ( ur wife is gonna hate me when u get married...

    take care dude... :)

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  7. Hi Rakesh! I was thinking that India was a bit away of this, the huge problems being US, South America, and England and Spain in Europe... Well, everybody is touched; even we have our share... Globalization in full force!
    Take care!
    Gil

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  8. I hope you are taking care of yourself bro. I was listening to one of India's top doctors being interviewed by Prannoy Roy and he was like there is absolutely no reason to panic. I think the media hype has added to the sense of fear and foreboding. As you said if you can keep personal hygiene and avoid places where you might be susceptible then you should be fine. But there is no reason to panic. Take care bro.

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  9. hold on tight...it is scary but not like bird flu...and as soon as monsoon will pass..it will subside down ... and i agree to maintain santitation

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  10. funny thing is.. H1N1 infection _can_ be cure if diagnosed at the right time... still people promptly shell out 400 bucks for the N95 masks (black market) but dont wanna buy a condom that saves them for sure fatality by AIDS..

    :-|

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  11. Devika Chechi

    Yes, I've been reading! Lets hope the darn thing leaves us in peace!

    Do take care

    Rakesh

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  12. Jeevan

    Yes, Chennai too has come in vicinity of this scourge! Tough times!

    Take care

    Rakesh

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  13. Old Monk

    Sadly, yes! Good quarantine measures, improved treatment facilities and a better response should see a lot of progress in controlling this!

    Rakesh

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  14. Anya

    Yes, its a bad situation! Hopefully should pass!

    Rakesh

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  15. Samby

    Damn glad to hear from U!

    Don't worry budd, our beer outings will stay long, even after I get married ;)

    Take care

    Rakesh

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  16. Gil

    Indeed, globalization full force! Lets hope that this too shall pass!

    Rakesh

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  17. AJ

    Yes budd, a lot of restrictions in place combined with a number of travel advisories as well! Hopefully it is a passing phase!

    Take care. Appreciate your concern!

    Rakesh

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  18. Sourish

    Yeah, only time will tell! Hopefully this is passing!

    Thanks for the visit and comments!

    Rakesh

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  19. Chayya

    Indeed! People are very naive and get panicky only when there is a lot of hype associated with a situation! This proves that no amount of awareness can help! It needs to be a conscious decision to protect oneself!

    Thanks for the visit and comments! Appreciate it!

    Rakesh

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  20. I am loving the way people are panicking... made travelling in Public Transport in Delhi a hell lot easier.. hehe

    On a serious note panicking is more like human nature.. there are some who just need a reason to panic...

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  21. MSA

    In fact yes, people are running helter-skelter and for once I think it is good since @least then the concept of sanitation and cleanliness can be upheld!

    Quite right when you say that people need a reason and to panic is human nature! I agree!

    Rakesh

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