TS, AP yet to initiate preventive measures

OUTBREAK OF SWINE FLU

Hyderabad: The two governments in Telugu states –Telangana and Andhra Pradesh – do not seem to have learnt lessons from the outbreak of swine flu which has claimed precious lives. And, the two States have not yet to come to grips with the preventive measures to contain the spread of dreaded H1N1 virus.

According to officials, not less than 80 persons succumbed to the disease between November last year and April this year. During this year, as many as 31 blood samples out of total 254 tested positive between August and September 10.

Speaking to The Hans India, Dr G Srinivas, Special Officer, Swine Flu, said the Health Department had procured one lakh ‘Fluvir’ capsules, 500 Fluvir syrups for the children and 5,000 H1N1 vaccines meant for the health care staff at a cost of Rs 24 crore.

However, striking a different note, another medical official said the government should have pursued a more proactive public campaign o create awareness among the people regarding swine flu.In all, as many 26 deaths due to swine flu were reported in AP since January 2015. During the same period, as many as 98 samples tested positive. In September alone, four cases were been reported from the Steel City.

Dr Geeta Prasadini, Additional Director, Health, and Nodal Officer for Swine Flu, said that 38 positive cases were reported from Visakhapatnam district and 28 from Chittoor district between January and August this year. She attributed the weather conditions to the spread of virus and a 24x7 epidemic cell had been made available for the people to call and know information on swine flu.

Further, ‘Tami flu’ drugs had already been sent to all the districts. Some doctors expressed the view that the lone testing lab at the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) in the city was burdened with the responsibility of testing the samples coming from both TS and AP.

And, if two more testing labs were established, one at Fever Hospital and another at Chest Hospital, it would help in getting test results without delay and to start early and effective treatment to the patients.

By:v naveen kumar