JOIN US'Freedom from flu fear'
He also categorically stated that there was no necessity for schools and colleges to be closed and all schoolchildren were being tested.
Addressing the media after an emergency review meeting with officials of the Health department, he requested the media and Opposition parties to support the Government in its efforts and not create more panic. “We are taking all necessary precaution and carrying out public awareness campaigns along with several NGOs. The situation is under control and is lot better than other states,” he said.
The CM said, all district and government hospitals in the State were being equipped with special wards and the State had a stock of one lakh Tamiflu tablets, sufficient for 10,000 patients. He said, money will be made available for appointment of additional personnel and Health officials will be deployed at all hospitals. He said 40 private hospitals in the State have been equipped with Tamiflu. He also warned of action against hospitals which do not admit patients.
More hospitals
Later in the evening, Health Commissioner P N Srinivasachari said three more hospitals - K C General Hospital and Government Hospitals at Yelahanka and Indiranagar in Bangalore will be roped in for screening and treating patients. The State has requested Ramana, additional secretary, department of Commerce, GoI, who has been appointed as the nodal officer for Karnataka, to arrange for supply of 500 testing kits from the Centre.
The Government has also requested the Centre to allow treatment of patients, if any, in Gulbarga and Bidar, at recognised institutions in Hyderabad, as it would be easier to arrange for logistics there. The State has also sought thermoflash instruments to check the temperature of the patients standing in queue for screening, at hospitals. Those running high fever could be given priority for screening, he felt. The Government has also appealed to around 60 private hospitals in Bangalore to stock Tamiflu tablets.
126 confirmed cases
Meanwhile, 11 more influenza A (H1N1) cases (nine in Bangalore and two in Udupi), were confirmed on Friday, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the State to 126. At present, 41 patients are undergoing treatment in Bangalore, five in Udupi and two in Mangalore. Results on one sample each from Chitradurga and Gulbarga are awaited.
As many as 35 persons associated with Roopa Anand, who succumbed to influenza A (H1N1), including her family have been administered medication, he added.