The Department of Public Health, State University of Bangladesh (SUB) organized a seminar entitled "Swine Flu: A Serious Health Concern" on 6th September 2009 as intra-departmental monthly seminar series. Dr. Nawzia Yasmin, Head & Academic Program Director, Dept. of Public health was the keynote speaker. The Seminar was presided by Prof Asif Nazrul, Advisor, School of Law , SUB.
Dr. Yasmin highlighted the history, clinical features, and management of swine flu very pleasantly. She also emphasized on awareness development and preventive measures from the public health point of view. On her presentation, she said that swine influenza is a respiratory illness caused by a new strain of swine influenza virus, which has been named pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza by the WHO. She mentioned that as pet WHO, a confirmed case is defined as an individual who is confirmed in the laboratory with real time PCR or virus culture for pandemic influenza virus 2009. She also briefed the declaration of Swine flu a phase 5 pandemic by the WHO. While describing the features of the disease, she stressed that fever, which is usually high, but unlike seasonal flu, cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue or tiredness, can be expressed along with diarrhea and vomiting. Though these features can be absent, serious respiratory illness like shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing can be labeled as an alarming sign for SF. Dr. Yasmin also emphasized on prevention aspects of the menace. As prevention, she pointed out avoidance of crowded public places as far as possible, frequent hand washing with soap and caustic detergents and preferably warm water, always covering nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, disposal of dirty tissues promptly and carefully, advising sick patients to stay home and minimize contacts with others and considering facemasks (disposable, single use masks) for persons with flu like illness especially for those who enter crowded settings. She strictly addressed not to misuse antiviral drugs as oseltamivir.
At the end of her speech, Dr. Yasmin demonstrated personal protective equipments. Students as well as faculty members and staffs from SUB participated the Seminar actively with endeavour. A lively discussion followed the presentation. Students and faculty members raised practical and empirical problems which was also responded by Dr Suman Lahiry, Dr Mainul Alam and Dr Nazmul Karim of the Department of Public Health. Prof. Iftekhar Ghani Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor, SUB delivered his concluding remarks pledging all to curve the epidemic and gave profound vote of thanks. |
