Swine flu cases keep officials on toes

Kurnool: Swine flu (H1N1) cases are on the rise in Kurnool district and total number of deaths reached to six with the two swine flu deaths that occurred on Sunday.

On October 12th and 16th, four persons succumbed to the disease while undergoing treatment at an isolation ward in Kurnool General Hospital. Four more patients are being treated at the ward; one patient is known to be a staff of medical department.

The Additional District Medical and Health Officer (ADMHO) and Civil Surgeon Dr S Saraswathi Devi speaking to The Hans India said that total 13 patients have been declared positive.

For the past one month, these 13 patients are given treatment in isolation ward. Of them, six patients died up to Sunday, she stated. The ADMHO further said, “We have taken all steps to tackle the dreaded disease. We have mobilised the medical teams, each team comprising a medical officer, senior doctor and a staff nurse at all mandals.

These teams will conduct survey at the concerned mandals and if any patient is found to be having positive symptom, he would be immediately referred to Kurnool General Hospital.

“We have also set up 8 screening centres across the district, two at Kurnool, two at Adoni, two at Nandyal and the other two, one in Srisailam and the other in Mantralayam. The Screening centres will function round the clock at railway stations and bus stations.

The medical team not only conducts surveys in the mandals, but also inspect private hospitals. The private hospitals are strictly advised to set up a separate isolation ward at their hospitals.

The hospital management is advised to maintain adequate number of masks, medicines and other medical infrastructure. Other than patient, no one should be allowed into isolation ward and they should maintain a separate register of swine flu patients.

They have to intimate to the authorities at Kurnool General Hospital. The ADMHO S Saraswathi Devi said that those who are suffering from continuous fever along with breathlessness for three to four days should immediately consult the doctor and take necessary treatment.

The positive detected patients should not roam among other people as the virus spreads through shaking hands and air. While interacting with others and roaming at the busy centres, the patients should wear masks.