Swine flu in India: Pakistanis warned against travelling to India

Swine flu has claimed more than 1200 lives in India, and the menace is not looking to stop anytime soon. The deadly H1N1 virus has affected people all across the country - from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu. This has also impacted tourism, as people are scared that they will contract swine flu if they come to India.

A human and civil rights organization -- Ansar Burney Trust -- has also urged Pakistani citizens who are currently in India to avoid swine flu-affected areas and public places where the disease is more likely to spread, Dawn reported. (Read: Swine flu symptoms and signs you MUST be aware of!)

The number of those who have contracted the disease in India this year has reached 23,153. Ansar Burney trust chairman said that the Trust was trying hard to raise awareness about swine flu, which has become an epidemic in India and could spread to Pakistan. Burney has requested President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take measures to prevent the spread of swine flu. (Read: 15 precautions every Indian should take to prevent swine flu)

Hospitals in Pakistan may not be prepared or equipped to deal with a large influx of inpatients suffering from H1N1, a visit to a hospital in Karachi revealed. In an attempt to stop the spread of the disease, government officials in India had banned public gatherings in some regions of the country. H1N1 is a seasonal flu virus similar to that found in pigs. Although it circulates in pigs, the virus cannot be passed on by eating or handled contaminated pork products, which are cooked properly. (Read: Prevent swine flu with these 10 dos and don ts)

Source: IANS

Photo source: Getty images

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