Khulna City Corporation (KCC) has launched a mass awareness programme against the spread of swine flu, a highly pathogenic human influenza type A (H1N1) virus, and to battle the new strain of flu, in the region.

Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque said all the KCC-run Urban Primary Healthcare clinics have been advised to remain on alert round-the-clock and report to KCC control room immediately after receiving information about any patient infected with the flu.

Meanwhile, the recent increase in the cases of deadly new strain of swine flu across the country has created panic among the people of Khulna metropolitan city.

A large number of children are being taken to different hospitals by their guardians for medical check-up with sneezing, coughing and respiratory problems.

Deputy Civil Surgeon of Khulna Mir Daud Ali said there has so far been no case of any person infected with this deadly disease. It is just panic which is forcing people to crowd in hospitals and clinics in the city for consulting doctors.

Acting Director of Health for Khulna division Dr Molla Harun-or-Rashid said he had so far received no more information of swine flu case from any of 10 districts under his jurisdiction.

Condition of two patients earlier infected with this virus in Jessore recently is satisfactory. They are still under medical treatment, he added.

The acting health director said three land ports at Benapole of Jessore, Bhomra of Satkhira and Darshana of Chuadanga and Mongla seaport of Bagerhat have been put on high alert against carrying of swine flu by passengers coming from India and other swine flu-hit countries of the world.

“We have our medical teams at all the land ports and Mongla seaport who are working round-the-clock to prevent outbreak of the disease,” he said.

He further said that isolation corners have been set up in each state-run hospital of all the districts in Khulna division.

There are arrangements in the isolation corners with adequate preparations to provide quick medical treatment after completing quarantine of patients infected with the flu virus.

Upazila hospitals have also been kept prepared to treat suspected patients of swine flu strain.

Molla Harun said there is no crisis of medicines to cure the flu-infected patients.

He advised people not to get scared in case of sneezing, coughing or high fever and consult doctors as quickly as possible after they feel these flu symptoms.