SURAT: Pallavi Choksi, a college-going student, has been advised by her parents not to do garba with a person suffering from cough and cold. They are concerned for her because of rising number of swine flu cases in the city. Like thousands of other youngsters, she too had been preparing for
Navratri since the last five months. It is estimated that seven lakh people will be doing garba during Navratri festival in the city and many will be at risk of getting infected if they are not cautious.
Swine flu was never witnessed in Surat during summer and monsoon seasons. But, this monsoon season 81 positive cases of H1N1 were detected in the city, with three persons succumbing to the deadly virus. Most of the patients either have been aged people or young children. Doctors have been calling it endemic and not epidemic, but they have been proved wrong with 81 positive cases in last two-and-a-half-months in the city.
Youngsters enjoy doing garba in the crowded garba venues. However, if a member of garba group is swine flu patient, others too can get infected.
Dr Hemant Desai, general physician, said, “You can’t stop people, especially youngsters from going to garba venue due to fear of swine flu. However, precautions must have to be taken.”