Doctors to be trained to treat H1N1 flu

State Surveillance Officer Dr Vasudeva Murthy said that private doctors needs to be sensitised on the diagnosis of H1N1 influenza, while treating patients. "We will soon conduct a rapid response training to train doctors in diagnosis and treatment for flu."
Final year students from six medical colleges including Bangalore Medical College (BMC), Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Vydehi Medical College, Ambedkar Medical College and Rajarajeshwari Medical College and Hospital will be engaged in the surveillance activities.

I R Perumal, Principal Secretary of the health department, said that during the meeting it was felt that there was no need to create more labs to test H1N1 swabs in the State. However, nine labs have been proposed. 

He said that private practitioners are being told to check Influenza like symptoms among people who come for consultation. "After consultation, if the physicians notice that the patient has flu-like symptoms even after two days, they may administer the Tamiflu tablets to the patients or refer them to the Government hospitals at the earliest," he said.

Meanwhile, the audit report on people who have died due to H1N1 influenza is already in process. The hospitals are expected to submit the reports to the health department within 10 days, he said.

Awareness drive

The awareness drive in the form of Information, Education and Communication (ICE), similar to Dengue and Chikungunya campaign will be conducted from next week.
 Till date, BBMP has covered 40 wards in their surveillance activity and based on analysis, it was found that there were more number of deaths and positive cases in northern and western parts of Bangalore.

Health officials said the surveillance activities will be intensified in these areas.

23 fresh cases test positive

Twenty-three fresh cases tested positive for H1N1 Influenza raising the total number of positive cases to 852 in the State on Friday.  Out of the positive cases, 16 were reported in Bangalore, three in Mysore, two in Belgaum and one each in Bagalkote and Kolar.  There were no deaths reported on Friday, however 75 persons have succumbed to H1N1 Influenza in the State with 55 alone in Bangalore so far.

DH News Service