Swine Flu: Today's Developments

As many as 105 persons, including 78 para medical staff of a hospital where the 14-year-old school girl died of swine flu, have been put on preventive medication for H1N1 virus.

However, many of the family members of Rida Shaikh, a Class Nine Pune student who succumbed to the deadly influenza virus yesterday, including her mother and cousin sister have tested negative for the infection, they said.

Preventive medication would be given for ten days to all those who came in contact with the flu victim, the officials said.

Meanwhile, civic health officials have started screening students of Anne's school where Rida studied. The school has put up a notice saying it will remain closed for two days till tomorrow.

Government today issued fresh guidelines to contain the spread of swine flu in the country a day after one patient succumbed to the disease in Pune.

According to the new guidelines, patients, whose swab test are pending but have mild flu symptoms, will now have the option of being treated at home.

The Centre while issuing the guidelines considered the fact that the fear of isolation at stipulated hospitals was making less people with swine flu symptoms to report.

"After the clinical examination by a doctor at the identified health facility, a person can be treated at home or at the hospitals pending results of the swine flu test," Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Health Vineet Choudhary told reporters here.

He, however, added that the decision of the doctors at the identified health facility would be final regarding hospitalisation of the patient.

According to the guidelines, if a person is being isolated and treated at home, then the care givers and family members would be given measures on how to protect themselves as well as take care of the patient.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has said that there was total negligence on part of the hospital which treated the 14-year-old girl, who died of swine flu in Pune.

Terming the incident as "unfortunate", Chavan said: "This incident is really unfortunate. I feel there was total negligence on part of those who admitted her to the hospital and negligence on part of the hospital."

He said that health authorities would find out the reasons as to why proper treatment was not given to her.

Chavan, who met senior health officials, said he asked officials to take every possible step to deal with such cases.

Meanwhile, the girl's family members have blamed the doctors for failing to detect the disease in time.

The hospital authorities who had carried the tests following the directions of government and health officials did not report that she was infected by swine flu.

The officials at Jehangir Hospital where she was admitted however said that they have kept everyone in the family informed about her condition .

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Checking Influenza H1N1

Doctors Put At International Airport

Even though Pune authorities say that there is no fear of swine flu, which is now called Influenza A (H1N1) spreading in Pune, the government does not want to take any chance. A team of doctors is put up at the Pune International Airport. It is expected that all persons coming from America, Canada, Mexico will be checked for the infection.

According to J. P. Mathur, director of Pune airport, a team of doctor from central governments health scheme was present at the airport from May 1. Now the team from Sate government has been appointed at the airport. The team will be working in various shifts round the clock at the airport.

Dr. P D Adling, who is a part of the team told, “At present we have a team of 10 doctors, 12 nursing staff and 4 servants who will be examining the suspects. As there are cases from America, Canada and Mexico our focus is on foreigners. While boarding the international flight all the passengers are given a form in which they have to fill up the details of their health.

Meanwhile, the central government has directed all state governments to carry out checks for Swine Flu infections. As a part of prohibitive steps, it has been suggested all the poultries and pig farms in the state should be registered with Animal Husbandry department rather than agriculture department. This will enable the department to carry out routine checks on the animals.

However, the proposal is not new. It was put up three years ago when the Bird Flu hit India in 2006. Vasant Ramteke, additional commissioner of Animal Husbandry department told Pune Mirror, “A committee is being formed in this regard. The new rules for the registration of the poultries and pig farms will be framed based on the recommendation of the committee.”

Meanwhile, the central government has issued directions to all state governments with regard to measures against Swine Flu. This includes checking the places where pet and stray pigs are found. The abattoirs will also be checked by the department. On asked whether the piggeries are registered in the state with Animal Husbandry department, Ramteke said that pork consumed in the state come mostly from local breed. “Mostly a group of about 10 to 15 pigs are reared. It is not organised in the profession manner. Hence, there is no question of registering the piggeries,” he said.

Local officials have rejected the idea of any threat of Influenza A (H1N1). According to the Pune Municipal Corporation officials, hardly any imported pork is consumed in Pune. Therefore the the risk is minimal.

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