Forty-six persons have tested positive for H1N1 virus on Saturday taking the total number of cases reported in the Capital to 439, including five persons who died so far this season. In the past 31 days the city has reported over 400 cases of swine flu with doctors warning that the trend is not showing any signs of slowing down.
With the rise in the number of cases, the Delhi Government held a meeting with top health officials to review the situation. Dr. S. K. Sharma, director of health services, Delhi Government, said: “We have taken stock of the situation and have looked into the logistics of training and availability of medicines etc. Instructions have been issued to the Lok Nayak Hospital to re-train/sensitise the staff about swine flu management, check their ICU preparedness and ensure that there is proper data collection on the disease.”
Meanwhile, among those having tested positive for swine flu this week are three doctors and an intern working at Lok Nayak Hospital, all of whom are stable and have been put on Tamiflu. “Medical staff has to follow the guidelines to avoid getting infected,” added Dr. Sharma.
He noted that the review meeting on the status of swine flu along with a five-member committee constituted in this regard has come to the conclusion that the swine flu is under check.
“The situation is under control and we have had no more deaths since mid-week. And even those who died, two of them suffered from severe co-morbid conditions. Swine flu is a seasonal flu and will wane away with temperatures rising,” he added.
Assuring that there is no cause for panic, he noted: “We have enough stock of medicines. The reason behind the upsurge in swine flu cases is also because of better awareness due to which more and more people are getting themselves tested and also because of better equipped labs.”
Doctors noted that swine flu is a self-limiting disease and medicines are given to break the chain so that the infected person cannot spread the virus in the community. H1N1 virus influenza was at its most virulent form when it initially spread in 2009. Till May 2010, 1,035 people had died of the disease in India.
Lok Nayak Hospital to sensitise the staff about swine flu management
“Upsurge in swine flu cases is also because of better awareness”
