One more dies of swine flu in Rajasthan; docs' leave cancelled

One more person succumbed to the H1N1 virus in Rajasthan, taking the swine flu toll in the state to 52. 

Following the failure to check the spread of swine flu, the state government has announced more measures. Health Minister Rajendra Rathore is monitoring all the operations personally. 

So far, around 939 samples have been taken and 259 people tested positive for H1N1.

The government has also cancelled leaves of doctors and medical staff. Control rooms have been set up in every district. Officials in charge of these control rooms have been asked to provide hourly updates to the state heath directorate in Jaipur.

Senior officials in the heath department having medical degrees have also been sent in different districts to monitor the operation. A special team of officials has been constituted to ensure uninterrupted supply testing kits and related medicines in all districts.

Meanwhile, private diagnostic centers are doing brisk business conducting swine flu tests at exorbitant rates. In the city, they are charging Rs 5,000-6,000 for tests.  

The state government has initiated free testing facility in all government hospitals. Due to huge crowd at government hospitals, people are forced to visit private clinics and hospitals. When contacted to officials of medical department, they refused to comment.

To de-congest government hospitals, the state has ordered government doctors to upload swine flu test reports online within 12 hours of testing.

Meanwhile, the Congress’s state unit on Tuesday demanded Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje's resignation over the government's “failure” to contain the spread of swine flu.

In a statement, Secretary of the Scheduled Caste unit of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee Savitri Khareria said it is a “non-functional” government as the state's home minister and former chief minister have tested positive for the H1N1 virus.