The virology laboratory at Andhra Medical College’s microbiology department will soon be upgraded to be able to conduct swine flu testing. This was decided during a meeting held to plan ways to create awareness among people about swine flu, how to prevent it and control it when it affects a person, here on Thursday.
When Superintendent in-charge of King George Hospital P.V. Sudhakar said that getting swabs sent from here for testing at the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Hyderabad might not be easy in future, and that PCR equipment for testing could be installed in the Microbiology Department’s lab, Minister for HRD Ganta Srinivasa Rao asked Collector N. Yuvaraj to release Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh required for the machinery from the Hospital Development Society funds of KGH. Now three Assistant Professors, a technician and a few others have to undergo training for a short period to conduct the tests.
Earlier DMHO J. Sarojini gave a PowerPoint presentation on swine flu and the methods to control it. A person suspected to be having swine flu must not mingle with others and be kept in isolation.
When pointed out that huge crowds would gather at the Visakha Utsav venues, she said only those having symptoms of swine flu must stay away.
MLAs P.G.V.R. Naidu, P. Vishnukumar Raju, Palla Srinivas and V. Ganesh Kumar were also present.
