VARANASI, Aug. 30 -- Chief medical officer (CMO) Dr NP Singh has directed district-level hospitals and all Community Health Centres (CHCs) to reserve beds for swine flu patients and ensure the availability of essential medicines used to treat the disease. The CMO said swine flu is a contagious respiratory disease. The infection can spread through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. He stressed that timely identification of symptoms and appropriate treatment are crucial. People infected with swine flu may develop symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, headache, body and muscle aches, and extreme fatigue or weakness. In some cases, vomiting or diarrhoea may also occur. People should seek immediate medical advice if symptoms appear, particularly the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those suffering from pre-existing serious illnesses. CMO Dr NP Singh has directed all concerned officials and health centre in-charges to ensure the timely identification, medical examination, treatment and, if necessary, referral of people showing symptoms of swine flu.He also directed officials to upload essential information about identified individuals on the designated portal in a timely manner. This will help in monitoring the disease and ensuring effective control measures at the district level. The Chief medical officer (CMO) appealed to the public not to panic if symptoms of swine flu appear, but to seek medical advice without delay....