Swine Flu – A disease that went beyond being just a Pandemic

Swine Flu or medical speaking H1 N1 virus spreads its pandemic tentacles in India…100 odd cases are reported...Pune witnesses a large number of reported Swine Flu Cases…A highly reputed English medium school reports 14 students positive to H1 N1 virus…Situation time…Panic spreads and parents do not allow children to attend school…Concerns grow and hence school organizes a dialogue between the State and Local Medical Authorities, School Management, Indian Medical Association, Pune Chapter, authorities of the National Institute of Virology, Pune and most importantly the panic stricken parents.

My daughter studies in the same school and naturally I was also concerned. Almost every parent that I came across seemed highly stressed. A funny incident can be related to this fact. Due to some nose irritation, I gave a few sneezes. Two women sitting in front of me immediately covered there mouth and nose and kept it on till the end of the program.

The Government Medical authorities explained in detail the aspects, causes and treatment modalities to the parents. They explained the measures taken in India presently are known as QUARANTINE or isolation of the patient for certain period of time that the treatment is administered and the virus is sanitized.

Now, parents were of the view point that if the school is kept closed for a few days the effects of the virus would be eradicated. Lot of deliberations took place between the parents and the medical experts with an added spice of few local politicians joining in the same.

Now, as most had their bit of limelight, two gentlemen came on the stage with medical masks on their faces covering their nose and mouth. They were the fathers of infected students. They put forth 2 pronged theory of dealing with this situation
1) Human Relations
2) Social Responsibility

A tingle went down my spine. A thought process evolved and made me to realize the trauma these parents might be going through. Here we are all concerned whether we or our children are subjected to this disease but least concerned of the children that already have attracted the wrath of this disease.

More importantly is the condition of the child subjected to quarantine. No one wants to be alone for a certain period of time. Rightly put forth by one of the affected parent - imagine you staying in prison for one day. True, children aged between 10 to 13 years subjected to isolation from rest of the world just because of some virus. He or she is not used to it but these are the children of India who have braved this adversity and have cured themselves.

What are the parents of infected students going through? The concern for such parents now is the acceptability of their child in general society after their recovery. Well here is where we have to use the tool of Human Relations.

The medical authorities have assured that patients diagnosed for H1N1 virus after proper medical treatment are not further carriers of this disease. So they all are part of us. Let us accept these students with open arms. They are part of our society and our fraternity.

However, we also need to understand the aspect of social responsibility. We as parents if discover that our child is suffering from any symptom of this virus (symptoms can be gathered from internet) we need to take appropriate steps. Let us use our self discipline methods here. Visit the Government authorized medical centre and get yourself tested that also if the medical authorities deem you fit for the test for H1 N1 virus.

Swine flu is not only a pandemic it is now a force dynamic to our life specific at present. So as fellow humans we need to think, plan and execute as mentioned.

My friend Sanjay has suggested this link which can be useful to all of us
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8021958.stm