more-in Reports of positive Swine Flu cases and a couple of deaths in Telangana have raised concern in Vijayawada, the gateway to Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Group of Hospitals’ pulmonology and intensive care division head M. Ravindranath said efforts were being made to ensure availability of Elisa Test Kits at three places in the State. As of now, the kits are available in the required numbers only in Hyderabad. The new centres will probably be Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and either Guntur or Vijayawada. An Elisa Kit for identifying Swine flu costs between Rs.2,000 and Rs.2,500 and two to three days are required for the test results to come, he said. “Since Swine flu is an airborne disease, it is better for people to avoid large gatherings. Those with cold and cough should cover their noses and mouths either with handkerchief or even better face masks,” he said. Minister for Health Kamineni Srinivas is expected to make announcements about the preparedness for Swine flu in Tirupati on Wednesday. Special wards planned General instructions have been issued to prepare special wards for patients suspected of having Swine flu in all the teaching and district headquarters hospitals. Flu spreads among humans when infected people cough or sneeze. Also if people breathe in the virus or touch something with the virus on it and then touch their face. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way. Swine flu is not spread by pork products as it is not transmitted through food. It is most contagious during the first five days of the illness, though some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to 10 days. Diagnosis can be made by sending a specimen, collected during the first five days, for analysis.

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