Centre, Delhi govt confer how to tackle swine flu

Country, is again in grip of Swine Flu with three more succumbing to death one each from Pune, Latur and Kolhapur today. “Including Saturday’s three casualties, 810 people have died from the H1N1 virus in the state so far this year”, said a state health official. Recent times are showing a huge increase in the number of swine flu cases and Pune also has suffered nearly 134 deaths because of this deadly H1N1 virus, out of which about 46 belonged to Pune, and about 810 people have died countrywide, because of the infection.

A 59-year-old man died at Safdarjung Hospital despite getting treatment.

Hospitals have been asked to double the number of their isolation beds, and the Delhi government has decided that “doctors, nurses, other paramedics in both government and private hospitals, and high risk groups like children, senior citizens, pregnant women, will be provided free vaccination in hospitals for effective prevention”.

Another health official said, “Rain has been recorded at many places across the state”.

In Maharashtra alone, about 2,634 people exhibiting influenza-like illness were screened for swine flu at various places on Saturday. Additionally, central and Delhi government hospitals have to ensure a full stock of the drug Oseltamivir, and the Delhi government has to “devise a mechanism to fix ceiling rate” to test the Influenza A H1N1 virus.

Nearly 2634 people with flu like symptoms were held under the scanner for swine flu by the authorities yesterday and out of them about 240 swine flu suspected cases, were prescribed Tamiflu tablets. The crowds can lead to rapid spread of infections. Another favorable thing for the viruses is that many festivals occur in October and September, which results in large gatherings of people. While reassuring the public, the Ministry of Health said that it expects a surge in the cases of flu of all types due to seasonal climatic changes at this period of the year. She was referred from Fortis Escorts Hospital in Faridabad.

An advisory was also issued earlier this week stating that vaccinations for vulnerable sections of the population should be available as soon as possible. Meanwhile, ministry’s pharmacies are running out of H1N1 vaccine amid huge rush of people, which put the pressure on health facilities.