With no confirmed case of A (H1N1) influenza in the district so far, there was no cause for panic over the spread of the disease, Collector T.Soundiah affirmed here on Wednesday.
Speaking at a meeting with doctors from the K.A.P.Viswanatham Government Medical College, the Health and Education departments, private doctors and voluntary organisations here to discuss the strategy to be adopted for avoiding panic reaction, Mr.Soundiah said all educational institutions in the district would be asked to sensitise students to the dos and don’ts with regard to swine flu.
Students should be closely monitored by the managements and in case of symptoms of the flu in any student, the health authorities should be intimated immediately. Schools should not to overreact and resort to actions such as asking students to wear masks.
Schools should be asked to clearly spell out the symptoms of the A (H1N1) flu during prayer meetings everyday and the course of action to be taken in case if students displayed the symptoms, he told Education Department officials.
Mr.Soundiah requested the K.A.P.Viswanatham Government Medical College authorities and the Health department officials to constitute special teams of doctors and representatives of voluntary organisations to visit college hostels to brief the inmates.
The district administration would bring out pamphlets detailing the symptoms of the flu and the dos and don’ts to be distributed to residents and school students through voluntary organisations. He also agreed to a suggestion on utilising the forum of Consumer Clubs in the schools and colleges to spread the message.
The Collector also directed the Health officials to screen workers from other States who were camping in the district for carrying out the four-lane highway projects.
One malaria case
Of the four persons admitted to the Annal Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital, attached to the K.A.P.Viswanatham Government Medical College, with suspected symptoms of swine flu, one has tested positive for malaria. Results of the throat swabs of the patients sent to the King Institute of Preventive Medicine were awaited. Adequate stock of Tamiflu drug was available in the district, he said. Medical College Dean N.Balasubramanian clarified that as per the latest government guideline persons with symptoms need not be compulsorily admitted to the Government hospital. They could be screened and allowed to stay in isolation at their homes or private hospitals. Only on confirmation of test results could Tamiflu be administered to the patients by the government hospital.
Joint Director of Health Poongothai, Corporation Health Officer K.C.Cheran, private doctors, representatives voluntary and consumer organisations, attended the meeting.
Corporation meeting
Mayor S.Sujatha chaired a meeting of Corporation officials on Wednesday to review the measures being taken to prevent the spread of swine flu and to sensitise people against panicking.
