JOIN USDistrict health officials gear up to tackle H1N1
Following the death of three persons due to H1N1 in the State and two suspected cases reported in the city, an emergency meeting of district Health and Family Welfare officials was conducted here on Saturday.
At the meeting chaired by Zilla Panchayat President Pushpa Amarnath at the office of district Health and Family Welfare, District Surveillance Officer Dr D G Nagaraj, also the Nodal Officer said two suspected cases have been reported in Mysuru against 97 reported last year.
However, in an attempt to allay fears, Nagaraj said the throat swabs of the two patients suspected to have contracted the virus has been collected, and the same will be sent to the laboratory at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru.
Last year, a total of 27 cases were confirmed against 97 suspected cases. Eventually, two persons died (one from Periyapatna and another from Sharadadevi Nagar in the city) between March and April. Since then, the situation has remained normal, the official claimed.
On the measures taken, Nagaraj said his office was ready to tackle exigency, with the available stock of men and materials. In all, 2,000 Tamiflu tablets (prescribed to category B patients) has been procured on an emergency basis, while eight hospitals in the city, including government and private, have geared up to treat such cases with dedicated facilities. They are - Epidemic Diseases Hospital and PKTB Sanatorium at Metagalli, K R Hospital, Railway Hospital, ESIC Hospital, JSS, Apollo BGS and Columbia Asia Hospital.
Separate lab
Pushpa Amarnath who reviewed the preparedness of the department, decided to write to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking a Viral Diagnostic Laboratory for Mysuru during the forthcoming State budget.
Pushpa directed the authorities concerned to take precautionary measures, giving more impetus to information, education and communication (IEC) programme at both district and taluk levels.
She said that awareness posters on do’s and don’ts must be put up at malls, theatres, markets, crowded places, transit centres like bus stands and railway stations, tourist spots among others in both Kannada and English languages.
If possible, the officials were asked to make use of the recently launched ‘Kala Jaatha’, an initiative of the government to publicise various facilities of the government on wheels, to spread the message of the pandemic disease.
Pushpa advised the people not to opt for self-medication in case of any symptoms like fever, cold and cough. Instead, approach the doctor.
One ventilator
Pushpa also directed the Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of K R Hospital Dr Chandrashekar to reserve one ventilator for H1N1 patients. According to the available stock, there are 21 ventilators at the hospital, including six sponsored by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).