Can private hospitals treat swine flu patients?
Yes. Most big private hospitals have isolation wards with ventilators where swine flu patients can be kept and treated. Are our government hospitals equipped to handle such cases? The Beleghata hospital is the only referral centre with 11 cubicles in the special isolation ward. The authorities say all the cubicles can be equipped with ventilators. The government has asked RG Kar and Bangur hospitals to set up special isolation wards. Can hospitals refuse to admit swine flu patients? No. If a hospital feels it does not have the infrastructure to treat the patient properly, it should refer him/her to the Beleghata hospital which cannot refuse admission to any swine flu patient. Is it safe to eat pork? Yes. WHO says there is no evidence of swine flu spreading through the meat of infected animals. But the meat has to be cooked properly. Is the siuation worse than last year? No, it’s same as last year. But there are chances of the virus spreading rapidly because of lack of infrastructure an
