Pb Health Dept gears up to tackle swine flu outbreak

Shaken out of slumber with a swine flu death in the State, Punjab Government has geared up its health machinery to prevent further spread of swine flue by taking precautionary measures.  A 55-year-old woman had succumbed to H1N1 virus in Amritsar on Tuesday.  Holding an emergent meeting of the health officers on Thursday, State Health and Family Welfare Minister Surjeet Kumar Jayani directed that all Government hospitals should set up separate screening area to screen outdoor patients and also set up well-equipped isolation wards to admit those requiring indoor treatment.

Already, the State Government had sent guidelines to medical colleges and hospitals and district medical officers regarding the swine flu and instructed to remain prepared.  Accordingly, all healthcare institutions in the State are prepared to handle any such incident and they have been provided with ample swine flu medicines and masks, said the Minister. Jayani said that although there was one positive case of H1N1 influenza that died due to swine flu, there were 11 suspected cases of swine flu in Punjab who were being investigated further.

“The mock exercises generating awareness amongst public have also been conducted in the State,” he said. Minister said that all identified hospitals have been directed to be ready with advanced life support ambulance. “The ambulance staff should follow standard precautions while handling the patient and airborne precautions if aerosol generating procedures are done,” he said.

Triple layer surgical masks should be available and worn during transport, he said adding that as far as possible, the movements should be restricted. Jayani also asked the authorities to disinfect the ambulance after shifting the swine-flu infected patient. “Detailed guidelines have also been sent to all educational institutions in Punjab under which heads of the institutions have been asked to monitor health status of such students or staff that might have come in contact with a suspected case of influenza H1N1 to see whether they develop flu like symptoms,” he said, adding that in case they do so, they should be allowed to stay home.

The hostel mess contractors have also been directed to ensure that the care providers wear face mask and wash hands regularly.