Kathmandu, January 17

The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division has denied rumours of swine flu outbreak.

Issuing a press statement yesterday, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division said no case of swine flue was detected in any part of the country although patients in some places were diagnosed with seasonal influenza. Dr Bibek Kumar Lal, director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, said that a section of the media had spread wrong information about swine flu outbreak.

Dr Lal said, “Seasonal influenza is not a new kind of disease, but a respiratory disease which occurs among people during the change of seasons.”

According to National Public Health Laboratory Teku, 168 people diagnosed with seasonal influenza were recorded from November 17 to January 10. Among them, 146 were diagnosed with influenza A (H1N1)pdm 09, nine were diagnosed with influenza A H3 and 13 with influenza B.

According to World Health Organization, seasonal influenza is characterised by a sudden onset of fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise, sore throat and a runny nose. The cough can be severe and can last two or more weeks.

Most people recover from fever and other symptoms within a week without requiring medical attention. But influenza can cause severe illness or death, especially in people at high risk.

The Epidemiology and Disease Control Divisionhas requested people to wash hands regularly, cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, use tissues, avoid close contact with sick people and avoid touching one’s eyes, nose or mouth.