Daily Times

The National Institute of Health (NIH) issued an advisory for the prevention and control of Seasonal Influenza in the wake of the expected upsurge of influenza cases in different parts of the country.

According to NIH, the objective of this advisory was to alert and facilitate the health authorities and other stakeholders for ensuring timely preventive and control measures encompassing preparedness to deal with the increased workload expected in the outpatient and in-patient departments during the next few months.

The advisory discussed that Influenza (seasonal flu) can spread from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing or can contaminate hands or other surfaces. It said that patients with chronic diseases (such as asthma, diabetes, cardiac and lungs diseases, etc.) pregnant women, elderly people, and children under five years are at higher risk of developing severe or complicated diseases. The advisory said that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection and severe outcomes caused by influenza viruses, particularly in high-risk groups.

The advisory emphasized that if someone is sick or has been in close-contact with persons having a flu-like illness, he or she should adopt preventive measures for limiting Influenza transmission including frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water and the use of hand sanitizer when away from hand washing facility, covering mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing, sick patients to take rest, and avoid crowds and taking social distancing measures. Flu viruses are continuously changing with the likelihood of the emergence of new flu viruses every year. This makes Influenza an unpredictable disease with varying extent of spread, timing, severity, and length of the season.

An upsurge of cases in Pakistan is usually been observed in the winter season. The flu cases increase as temperature falls during December and February. It said that the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) at the Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division (FE&DSD) of NIH was regularly monitoring the flu situation.

FE&DSD of NIH has also issued Seasonal Awareness and Alert Letters (SAAL) for awareness of public health professionals regarding epidemic-prone diseases including Influenza. UVAS holds ceremony in honour of flood relief volunteer teams: The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore on Saturday arranged an acknowledgement ceremony in the honour of flood relief volunteer teams who performed their duties day and night in the flood-hit areas.Former Punjab governor Lt Gen (retd) Khalid Maqbool presided over the ceremony and distributed appreciation certificates among UVAS flood relief volunteer teams and various committee conveners and members. He also presented souvenirs among the donors who donated cash and kind for the noble cause. Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Nasim Ahmad, former UVAS Vice-Chancellors including Prof Dr Manzoor Qureshi, Prof Dr Muhammad Nawaz, Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, officials from Livestock department and others were present.

Addressing the audience, Khalid Maqbool said that this year due to destruction by flash floods, the livestock farming community was facing economic losses. He acknowledged the role of UVAS students, faculty members and administration in fund raising and distribution of relief items among the flood-hit people with transparent manner. He urged students to learn about innovative skills and best practices related to veterinary profession to compete with developed countries graduates. He said it was direly needed to provide maximum opportunities of entrepreneurs to young graduates for their better future.

He said that a large number of stakeholders, students, researchers and farmers not only from Punjab but also from all over the Pakistan getting maximum benefits from UVAS through its quality education and research. He said UVAS always play a lead role for the uplift of livestock sector and contributing in national economy of Pakistan. Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Nasim Ahmad said that UVAS launched a flood relief campaign with the mission ‘Save Livestock, Save Communities’. He added UVAS in collaboration with local livestock department officials conducted a survey of flood-affected areas to see the real extent of damages and the relief needs and used GPS technology for this purpose.