People of Dakshina Kannada need not panic about H1N1. The people should consult a doctor when they develop symptoms of H1N1, said Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim.
Speaking at a meeting here on Friday, he said there were adequate quantity of medicines with the government hospitals. District Health Officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao said the district has a stock of 2,000 tablets. All the taluk hospitals have been given 100 tablets each. Five beds in taluk hospitals have been isolated to treat the patients suffering from H1N1. Though two death of persons diagnosed with H1N1 influenza reported in Mangalore, the two were not the natives of Dakshina Kannada.
While the first death was of a person from Gujarat, another was of a person from Kasaragod. The DHO said since January they had taken throat swabs of 37 persons and were tested at the laboratory in Manipal. Of these, seven persons, including the two deceased persons, have been found positive for H1N1. Out of five persons, one is from Dakshina Kannada, two from Udupi and two are from Kodagu districts.
Calling people not to get panic over H1N1, the DHO said that the influenza is similar to any other flu and spreads through coughing and sneezing. People should use kerchief while sneezing and coughing. If fever, body ache and coughing do not subside within two days of medication, people should approach the nearest hospital for testing.
He said that if the private medical practitioners inform the department of health and family welfare of the suspect patients, then the department will make an arrangement for the throat swab test and supply free tamiflu tablets. It is a scheduled drug and is available only in licensed drug and medical stores. In Mangaluru, it is available in Ganesh Medicals, Medicare centre and Fr Muller Hospital medical store. It can not be purchased without valid prescriptions from the doctor.
The DHO said that there is a need to create awareness on H1N1 in schools and anganwadi centres. District Surveillance Officer Dr Rajesh said that the district had shortage of tamiflu syrup. “However, we have received the syrup on Friday. As of now, the district did not receive any patient who is below five years old.”
Patients infected with influenza A H1N1 virus, with mild fever, cough, sore throat, should confine themselves at home and avoid mixing up with public and high risk members in the family. Those suffering from breathlessness, chest pain, drowsiness, fall in blood pressure, sputum mixed with blood, bluish discoloration of nails and irritability among small children, refusal to accept feed will come under H1N1 Influenza C category which require testing and immediate hospitalisation.
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