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Dreaded swine flu may be set for a comeback in Delhi
Bindu Shajan Perappadan
With the season changing, the relief might not last long, say doctors
NEW DELHI: Still enjoying a breather from the slew of swine flu cases reported until a few weeks ago, doctors in the Capital now warn that with the season changing the relief might not last long.
?While the number of swine flu cases has gone down substantially in recent weeks, we know that the year will see several ups and downs. The changing season and humid environment encourages virus growth so we might see a surge. But we are not sure how the swine flu virus will behave. Research is on to understand and offer a treatment for the flu. However, the good news is that people will eventually develop resistance to the virus and it will become like any other flu,? says a senior health official.
?The Capital has reported a total of 9,632 cases so far besides 94 deaths,? adds State nodal officer for swine flu Dr. Anjan Prakash.
Meanwhile, a recent study on the behaviour and attitude of college students and adults to swine flu in the city reveals that all the respondents knew about swine flu. The survey found a fairly high level of stress and fear among the respondents.
The study was carried out by second year B.A. (Programme) psychology students of Lady Shri Ram College for Women under the supervision of Dr. Kanika Aggarwal Khandelwal.
?For the study, a total sample size of 460 people was taken comprising 240 college students and 220 adults and the questionnaires were given to them in the months of October-November 2009 when swine flu was almost at its peak,? said Dr. Khandelwal.
?The idea was to understand the social psychological processes behind people?s panic reactions, bordering on mass hysteria during the peak of swine flu. We also wanted to understand if people?s anxieties and fears regarding swine flu would translate into some behaviour changes and taking preventive action,? said Dr. Khandelwal.
The result of the survey showed that female adults harboured the most negative attitudes towards swine flu, followed by male adults, male students and female students. Interestingly, preventive behaviour against swine flu followed almost the same order; expectedly, adults displayed more preventive behaviour than college students.
Adults were more conscious of their personal hygiene than usual, were taking immune boosting supplements and vitamins, and tried to stay away from people with flu-like symptoms in comparison to students. For instance, 52.72 per cent of the adults ?washed their hands more often than normal? compared with 42.92 per cent of students.
According to the survey report, it does appear that anxiety and fear of catching swine flu resulted in simple preventive behaviours like washing of hands and avoiding crowded places. This might have helped control its transmission.
Bindu Shajan Perappadan
With the season changing, the relief might not last long, say doctors
NEW DELHI: Still enjoying a breather from the slew of swine flu cases reported until a few weeks ago, doctors in the Capital now warn that with the season changing the relief might not last long.
?While the number of swine flu cases has gone down substantially in recent weeks, we know that the year will see several ups and downs. The changing season and humid environment encourages virus growth so we might see a surge. But we are not sure how the swine flu virus will behave. Research is on to understand and offer a treatment for the flu. However, the good news is that people will eventually develop resistance to the virus and it will become like any other flu,? says a senior health official.
?The Capital has reported a total of 9,632 cases so far besides 94 deaths,? adds State nodal officer for swine flu Dr. Anjan Prakash.
Meanwhile, a recent study on the behaviour and attitude of college students and adults to swine flu in the city reveals that all the respondents knew about swine flu. The survey found a fairly high level of stress and fear among the respondents.
The study was carried out by second year B.A. (Programme) psychology students of Lady Shri Ram College for Women under the supervision of Dr. Kanika Aggarwal Khandelwal.
?For the study, a total sample size of 460 people was taken comprising 240 college students and 220 adults and the questionnaires were given to them in the months of October-November 2009 when swine flu was almost at its peak,? said Dr. Khandelwal.
?The idea was to understand the social psychological processes behind people?s panic reactions, bordering on mass hysteria during the peak of swine flu. We also wanted to understand if people?s anxieties and fears regarding swine flu would translate into some behaviour changes and taking preventive action,? said Dr. Khandelwal.
The result of the survey showed that female adults harboured the most negative attitudes towards swine flu, followed by male adults, male students and female students. Interestingly, preventive behaviour against swine flu followed almost the same order; expectedly, adults displayed more preventive behaviour than college students.
Adults were more conscious of their personal hygiene than usual, were taking immune boosting supplements and vitamins, and tried to stay away from people with flu-like symptoms in comparison to students. For instance, 52.72 per cent of the adults ?washed their hands more often than normal? compared with 42.92 per cent of students.
According to the survey report, it does appear that anxiety and fear of catching swine flu resulted in simple preventive behaviours like washing of hands and avoiding crowded places. This might have helped control its transmission.
