New Delhi: With "Mahakumbh Mela" in Haridwar
round-the-corner, the Union Health Ministry is spending
sleepless nights over fear of spread of swine flu during the
massive congregation of devotees at the event.
Millions of people will take part in the three-month-long
gathering which starts from January 14, raising fear of spread
of the virus which has killed over 1000 people so far and
infected more than 10,000 in the country.
"Swine flu is transmitted from one human to another the
way any other viral disease is transmitted. The Union Health
Ministry has made all arrangements at Haridwar to combat the
spread of this disease. Test facilities, medicines - all will
be readily available to any person who complains of being
infected here," Indian Council of Medical Research DG V M
Katoch said.
He said, "the Director-General of Central Government
Health Scheme (CGHS) R K Srivastava has been assigned the
responsibility by the Union Health Minister to make all
arrangements at Haridwar."
Swine flu is transmitted from one human to another, if a
person touches something or someone with the H1N1 virus, or
through droplets in the air from a sneeze or cough of a person
who is inflicted with the virus.
"Kumbh Mela is the largest pilgrimage gathering of the
world. This cold weather is conducive for swine flu as it
helps the virus to grow and multiply. Though arrangements have
been made by the government, still we cannot rule out that
swine flu cases will not be reported from there," a scientist
with the National Institute of Communicable Diseases said.
PTI
