Critical units prepared to tackle H1N1

MANIPAL/MANGALORE:To prevent and contain the outbreak of H1N1, the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district health and family welfare departments have set guidelines for screening, testing and isolation. With nine H1N1 cases reported in Udupi district this year so far, Surendra Chimbalkar, district health officer in-charge, said all measures have been taken to handle all cases of fever. 

"Ten isolation beds have been readied at the district government hospital in Ajjarakad. There are also five beds reserved for treating H1N1 patients in taluk government hospitals in Karkala and Kundapur." He further said that pamphlets with dos and don'ts are being distributed at various places in the city and rural areas. The department has enough stock of Tamiflu to treat patients in KMC hospital, Manipal, TMA Pai Hospital, Udupi and Adarsha Hospital, Udupi. District rapid response team (RRT) has been also extending its helping hand to contain the spread of the disease. 

The district government hospital in Udupi is facing shortage of syrup, but Tamiflu capsules are available. He said tablets have been converted into syrup and given to patients. Dr Rohini, district surveillance officer, health department, appealed to people to avoid attending functions and social gatherings for some weeks. 

She also said that in case more than five children of the same school or in a same locality/colony have fever, it is always better to go to the nearby hospital as it would help health department officials to isolate such vulnerable groups, she said. H1N1 cases in Udupi/Manipal: Dr Rohini said that of the 52 suspected cases reported in Udupi district since January this year, nine tested positive, with no casualties so far. Of these nine cases, seven were from Udupi and two were from Kundapur taluk. 

Five of the nine patients have recovered and discharged. The remaining four are being treated. She told TOI that Udupi had reported the first case of H1N1 in June in 2009 in Manipal University campus. That year 28 had tested positive. The years- 2010 and 2014 -had comparatively more with 41 and 44 cases respectively. 

In all Udupi has reported 180 cases of H1N1 so far since 2009 and 24 deaths have occurred. 

10 positive cases, 2 deaths in DK district. Dakshina Kannada district has seen two deaths due to H1N1 since January this year. Both victims were not from the district. 

Dr Rajesh BV, district surveillance officer, said that of the 60 samples sent to Manipal for testing 10 tested positive. Of the 10 who tested positive only one was from the district, where an intern treating a H1N1 patient came down with the influenza symptoms. "She fine now,'' said Dr Rajesh. 

The first death was that of Anjana Patel,45, from Rajasthan who had come here for her mother-in-law's funeral. She travelled through from Shillong, Gujarat and Mumbai. She had severe cough and cold while arriving here and had not taken any medications. After two days she was admitted to a nursing home in Alake for severe stomach pain and diarrhea. When she developed breathlessness, she was shifted to a hospital where they administered Tamiflu, but she died on January 5. 

Another case was that of Brijesh MB, 33, from Parappa, Kasaragod who died early this month. He had come from Dubai and he had influenza symptoms. Dr Rajesh said he was in the hospital for four days and though he was administered Tamiflu, he succumbed. 

As of now District Government Wenlock Hospital has kept five isolation beds - one in paediatric department and four in general. ``Likewise all hospitals have one or two isolation beds to treat such patients. When the need arises it will be increased,'' said Dr Rajesh. 

But health workers, who are in contact with such patients, are not getting vaccinated as the state government has not supplied any vaccines. Health minister UT Khader said it is not recommended by the WHO, hence the government cannot make it mandatory in hospitals. 

Dr BS Kakkilaya, physician, said there are doubts about the efficacy of the vaccine. and it is reported that it ranges from 69% in adults to 39% in elderly "Moreover, this vaccine with moderate benefit may lull health workers in contact with H1N1 patients into a false sense of security,'' he said. 

The district was supplied with 300 vaccines in 2010 and thereafter none till date. 

Bengaluru reports one more A(H1N1) death

The city added another death to its increasing list of mortalities due to influenza A(H1N1). On Tuesday, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) health officials confirmed the death of Prema (51), a resident of Subbanna Garden near Vijayanagar, in a private hospital on Monday.

Meanwhile, the rising cases of the disease in the city has set off alarm bells in the BBMP, which on Tuesday, set up helpline to assist people even as 24 fresh A(H1N1) cases were reported. A Health Department official said of the 24 cases, 21 were reported in the BBMP limits while three were in Bengaluru Urban district limits.

The city has so far reported seven of the total A(H1N1) 12 deaths in the State this year, and about 75 per cent (99) of the total 131 cases in the State.

At a meeting with doctors in BBMP hospitals, officials reviewed the mechanism to tackle such cases. “We have decided to step up awareness across the city as there is a large number of migrant population and crowded areas,” a BBMP official said.

BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayana said, “All our hospitals are adequately stocked with medicines,” he said.

Helpline

Those seeking information on the symptoms or the treatment of influenza A(H1N1) can call the 24/7 helpline — 080- 22975684.

Doctors have classified the symptoms into A, B and C categories. While the first two categories are for symptoms of sore throat, fever, cold and cough, category C is for people with symptoms of chest pain and breathlessness who require testing and treatment.

Swine Flu: Everything you want to know about the pandemic

After 11 people succumbed to swine flu in 30 days in Hyderabad, and 150 people tested positive for H1N1 virus, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao has sought help from centre. One person has died of swine flu in Amritsar too and that has set off health alarms in the city.

Though there is no reason to panic, the doctors say, one needs to be careful and aware of the disease. Here’s all you need to know about pandemic.

What exactly is H1N1 and why is it called swine flu?

H1N1 is called swine flu because the virus was similar to influenza viruses that cause illness in pigs. In 2009, H1N1, or swine flu was called a pandemic by World Health Organization (WHO) because of its massive spread across the world.

How does it spread?

Swine flu is contagious. Influenza viruses infect the cells lining your nose, throat and lungs. It spreads in the same way as the seasonal flu. The virus spreads when you touch an infected surface or breathe cough and sneeze droplets in the air. People who have swine flu can be contagious one day before they have any symptoms, and as many as 7 days after they get sick. Kids can be contagious for as long as 10 days. Note: You can’t catch swine flu from eating pork.

What are the symptoms of swine flu?

Cough, fever, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea.

How does it affect people?

Young children, pregnant women, and older adults are more likely to develop complications. Swine flu can lead to more serious complications, including pneumonia and respiratory failure. And it can make conditions like diabetes or asthma worse. It can also lead to neurological conditions ranging from confusion to seizures.

How do you know it’s swine flu?

It’s hard to tell whether you have swine flu or seasonal flu, because most symptoms are the same. People with swine flu may be more likely to feel nauseous and throw up than people who have seasonal flu. But a lab test is the only way to know for sure. Even a rapid flu test you can get in your doctor’s office won’t tell you for sure.

What’s the treatment for swine flu?

The person suffering from swine flu should take proper rest, keep warm and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. There are antiviral medicines and antibiotics you can take to prevent or treat swine flu.

How can you avoid getting swine flu?

The best protection is to get a flu vaccine, or flu shot, every year. Washing hands and in keeping a good hygiene are the most effective way of slowing the spread of flu.

53-yr-old man is first H1N1 victim this year in Chennai

CHENNAI: A 53-year-old man from Mannady died at the Government General Hospital on Monday night after he was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. This is the first H1N1 death recorded in the city this year. 

P Sreenivasan, a resident of Mannady near Parry's Corner was a railway employee. Three weeks ago he went to Secunderabad for a training session and returned to the city on December 26. Within a few days, he developed cold and sore throat. He took treatment at a clinic located on Katchaleeshwarar Street. When the symptoms worsened with fever, he got admitted to Apollo Hospitals on Greams Road on January 16. 

"Initially he improved, but suddenly his temperature increased considerably. Within a day he developed pneumonia and his condition took a turn for the worse," said a doctor at the hospital. Blood samples sent for analysis confirmed that Sreenivasan was suffering from H1N1. He was shifted to Government General Hospital on January 18. 

"He came in with severe respiratory failure," said GH dean Dr R Vimala. He was given Tamiflu and treated for the H1N1 virus, but he died on Monday night as his immunity was severely compromised." The patient's body was handed over to the family the same night. 

Sreenivasan's relatives no official from the public health department or Chennai Coporation visited their house in the past 24 hours to check if anyone who was in contact with the patient has picked up the virus. "We are planning to go to a private hospital and get the tests done and take medicines," said Sreenivasan's sister-in-law. A corporation health officer, however, denied this. "Our team has been camping at the man's house. We will test the relatives for the virus," he said. 

Dr S Balasubramanian, joint director at the directorate of public health said that there was no cause for panic as H1N1 has been declared as a seasonal flu. "WHO has declared that it is not an epidemic. Only elderly people whose immunity is severely compromised should be cautious if they contract the virus," he said. Stating that this was the third H1N1-related death in the state, Dr Balasubramanian added that the health department has enough stock of Tamiflu, the standard drug to treat the condition. 

"So far the state has recorded 23 positive cases of H1N1 this year. We have advised all those who have prolonged cold to approach a doctor and take Tamiflu tablets," Dr Balasubramaniam said.