Thiruvananthapuram: H1N1 alert in hosps
He said that even the private pharmacies should stock up the swine flu medicine.
Thiruvananthapuram: The District Medical Office (DMO) has put all hospitals including private hospitals on high alert following a spike in H1N1 cases in the state capital. The death of a 16-year-old at Chammaruthy this week has set alarm bells ringing for health authorities across the district. On Tuesday, two more suspected H1N1 cases were reported in the district. Around 20 H1N1 cases have been reported in the state so far this month.
A top official of the DMO said that a lot of H1N1 case is being reported in the neighbouring Kanyakumari district. "Every hospital including private, community and primary health centres have been put on high alert. Swab test will be done on every suspected patient. We have given directions to every hospital to stock medicine," said the official.
H1N1 state nodal officer Amar Fettle said that guidelines have been circulated for easy detection of H1N1 cases.
"It's an endemic disease and it would be really foolish to wait for the swab test results if the symptoms indicate it's swine flu. Doctors should immediately start the treatment if the symptoms fit it as per the guidelines. Waiting another 24 hours could turn fatal for the patients," said Mr Amar Fettle.
He said that even the private pharmacies should stock up the swine flu medicine. Medical practitioners, pharmacists and nursing staffs should wear 3 layered masks to avoid contraction of H1N1. "Taking adequate precaution is the only way to protect ourselves," he added.