Colleges, schools at H1N1 risk, says govt

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 26

People who are part of closed population groups like Army barracks, residential schools, college hostels, ships and schools in general are at high risk of swine flu infection due to increased possibility of transmission from crowding.

This message forms part of the detailed guidelines on swine flu which the government issued late evening today as mortality from H1N1 reached 965 for the current year. As of yesterday (the latest data available), there were 17,304 laboratory confirmed cases of swine flu across the country and 965 deaths with 17 deaths being reported yesterday.

The Health Ministry's guidelines in the section "Epidemiology of swine flu - H1N1 (seasonal influenza)" say that "high attachment rates for the virus may be witnessed in closed populations such as Army barracks, residential schools etc." Doctors explained that high attachment rates indicate risks and infection and the guidelines are in a way alerting inhabitants of these groups while also cautioning school, college managements, etc., to take a call on the need for closure if necessary. Dehradun's Marshall School recently closed on account of swine flu scare and in the 2009 pandemic season, some students of Doon School had also tested positive.

"It is for school managements to take a call depending on vulnerability. Health is a state subject and detailed guidelines on risk factors, infection rates, vaccination etc have been shared with states. States should certainly ask schools, colleges etc to issue swine flu advisories for risk mitigation," said a Ministry official.

The guidelines, for the first time, officially list out high risk groups which need to be extra cautious about flu like symptoms which do not respond to treatment in 48 hours. These are young children with pre-disposing risk factors like asthma, etc; elderly pregnant women; health workers; people with lung, kidney, liver, heart disease and diabetes; immune suppressed people such as those on chemotherapy; and people on long term steroid treatment.

The government, while saying that it had played a "proactive role" in helping states contain the current outbreak, added: "Health is a state subject and states must take prompt measures to prevent the spread of H1N1 virus, its diagnosis, case management and treatment." The highest deaths have been reported from Rajasthan (245) followed by Gujarat (239); Madhya Pradesh (131) and Maharashtra 9119); Punjab has seen 40 deaths until yesterday.