With swine flu a few blocks away...

Residents staying near Kasturba Hospital get masked and ready

Residents staying near Kasturba Hospital get masked and ready

Staying close to Kasturba Hospital, the city's first and till some days ago, the only swine flu testing centre, is not easy.

Residents of Arthur Road where the hospital is located have learnt to grapple with the fear of swine flu.
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According to resident J Sarkar, locals are taking every precaution,u00a0from boiling water to wearing masks.
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You First: Jitendra Koli makes sure his children are safe as they pass by Kasturba Hospital.

"As the H1N1 virus is contagious and can spread through direct as well as indirect contact, we are keeping a close watch to ensure that the symptoms don't go unnoticed," said Sarkar.

Locals have adopted some healthy habits only because of the swine flu fear.

Jitendra Koli, another resident, said, "I have made it compulsory for my family members to regularly wash their hands and keep separate glasses for drinking water.

We also wear masks and avoid going to public places like malls, theatres and restaurants." Some are going the extra mile.

V R Kamtekar, a traffic constable at Arthur Road, said, "I have decided to quit eating non-vegetarian food.

I wear masks and wash my clothes with a disinfectant. I also use medicated soap to wash my hands and face."