Mumbai, August 11: The civic commissioner today said Mumbaikars need not worry about the spread of H1N1 virus as the metropolis has bravely faced several other challenges in the past like floods and terror attacks.
“We all have bravely faced several challenges like floods and terror attacks but we came out of it. Only 2 per cent of those tested for swine flu have been infected by the disease, so there is no need to worry,” Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak said here.
The situation is not that bad. People need not fear, he said.
Phatak said it is observed that people fear if someone is found sneezing or coughing in public.
“Also, there is a notion that if schools and multiplexes are closed down for sometime the virus will disappear. The virus is air-borne and it will not go away if the schools or multiplexes are shutdown,” Phatak said.
In 2006, there was an outbreak of bird flu in Maharashtra, but situation became normal in three to four months, he added.
—Agencies