The Department of Public Health plans to put up A(H1N1) influenza screening booths at the check posts on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border in Nagercoil, Tirunelveli, Theni, Coimbatore, Tirupur and the Nilgiris districts.
The move comes in the wake of a number of cases being reported in Kerala, Director of Public Health R.T. Porkai Pandian told TheHindu here on Sunday. The screening would, however, be voluntary. There was no plan for compulsory screening of passengers who travelled from Kerala by buses or other modes of transport, he said.
With a 45-year-old man of Nagercoil testing positive for the flu recently, the health department wanted to tighten surveillance and also step up sensitisation at points where human habitations were high on either side of the border.
A doctor, a village health nurse and a health inspector would be posted in each booth.
If people with sore throat and fever approached them, they would be checked for more definite symptoms and advised to go the nearest primary health centre. Handbills containing instructions on how to avoid spreading or contracting the flu virus would be distributed.
Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam and Principal Secretary, Health, V.K. Subburaj would hold a meeting in Coimbatore on June 15 with Joint Directors of Health Services of six districts and also the Deans of medical college hospitals, if any, in these areas, Dr. Porkai Pandian said.
Asserting that there was no case of A (H1N1) flu in Coimbatore, he said the department was maintaining extra vigil in view of the World Classical Tamil Conference to be held here from June 23 to 27. The onset of the monsoon also was the reason for extra caution.
“Surveillance is being tightened and there is adequate stock of Tamiflu capsules. But, the good news is that the mosquito density in Coimbatore is very less. Therefore, there is no need to fear any outbreak,” he said after reviewing the diseases prevention measures for the conference.
“We have posted a good number of officials and workers along the city-rural border within Coimbatore district to prevent the occurrence of any disease,” the health official said.
