Swine flu scare keeps Health Department officials on toes

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Mandi, January 29

The Health Department has issued guidelines to the field staff on swine flu as a precautionary measure. Several deaths due to the deadly H1N1 virus have been reported from Haryana and Punjab in the past few days.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) DR Sharma said the guidelines had been issued to health officials. “But so far, no swine flu affected case has been reported from any part of the state,” he added.

“We are prepared to deal with any exigency. We have set up a separate ward in the Zonal Hospital for swine flu-affected persons and sufficient stock of tamiflu tablets used to treat the ailment,” said the CMO. Protection gears to handle swine flu patients were also ready, he added.

He advised people to avoid going to crowded places. If a person suffers from high fever or chest pain, he must cover his or her mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing and stay indoors and away from other members of the family.

A 55-year-old woman from Sarkaghat had succumbed to the H1N1 virus in 2013. At least, seven persons in Haryana and one person in Punjab had died and more than 45 had tested positive for the disease.

Early warning signs

Fever remains high and not responding to treatment. There is difficulty in breathing or pain in the chest while breathing, coughing of blood-tinged sputum. Sensorium gets altered with change in behaviour (confusion, incoherent speech etc), loss of consciousness.

In particular, patients with co-morbid condition (hypertension, diabetes, bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis or obstructive airway diseases etc) need to be observed for worsening of symptoms. In children, irritability, not accepting feeds, vomiting, fast breathing rate and seizures are signs that needs immediate attention.