All hospitals to have isolation corners

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 12

With nip in the air, the threat of swine flu looms large over the city. The Health Department is all geared up to tackle any situation. It will set up isolation corners at all hospitals to handle swine flu patients.

Fiftyfive confirmed cases (18 deaths) of swine flu have been reported in the district from January to date. Generally, swine flu spreads during winter but this year, a different trend was witnessed with swine flu marking its presence in the summers as well. According to the experts, the strain of virus has changed due to which it was active in the summers as well. But now, it is not clear whether the same strain will be there during winter or it will change again.

To handle swine flu patients, the Health Department has decided to set up isolation corners. Apart from Civil Hospital, such corners will also be set up at the subdivisional hospitals at Jagraon, Raikot Khanna and Samrala. Orders in this regard have been issued and these isolation corners will be ready in a week. Specialists will take care of these corners and patients will be examined by them only.

The District Epidemiologist, Dr Ramesh, said: “Pamphlets are being distributed in the high-risk areas and we are disseminating knowledge regarding the flu among people. We plan to nip the disease in the bud,” said Dr Ramesh. Two wards at Civil Hospital with six beds have been set up.