Five new cases of swine flu were reported in the city and suburbs on Sunday taking the total up to 36 cases of A (H1N1).
Of the five, one 31-year-old pregnant woman has been admitted to the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Egmore. She is from M.S. Nagar and has been kept in the isolation ward.
Director of Public Health R.T. Porkai Pandian said a 17-month-old male baby from Tiruvottiyur and Aravind, a 19-year-old from Mangadu, have been kept in home quarantine.
Gokul (23) of Valasaravakkam and Sathyabhama (55) of Porur have been admitted to Sri Ramachandra Medical College in Porur.
“None of these patients are in danger. They have had no history of travel either. The virus is in transmission in the community,” he said.
Regarding community vaccination, Dr. Porkai Pandian said that initially vulnerable pockets of Chennai and Coimbatore that have more cases would be targeted. He said there were adequate stocks of Tamiflu in the State and tenders floated by the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation for the drug Oseltamivir would be opened tomorrow. Community vaccination is to begin by the end of this week. Asked if private hospitals have enough stock of vaccines, he said: “We ourselves have a shortage of vaccines. Once we get them, may be we can sanction some to private hospitals.”
“High-risk groups such as the elderly and persons with lung problems such as asthma will be covered. More health workers will also be vaccinated,” he said.
In the State, the total number of cases moved to 73 cases which includes, Coimbatore with 18 cases, Tiruppur 5, Cuddalore and Madurai 3 each and Karur and Tiruvallur 2 each.
Two new cases of a mother and a 4-month-old baby were reported on Sunday in Tiruppur. They have been kept in home quarantine.
