IMPHAL, February 19: A State head quarter cell being set-up to take preventive measures against swine flu has directed RIMS and JNIMS authorities to keep separate isolation wards for any known case of swine flu in the State, stated Okram Ibomcha, director of the State health department. He further said that the State head quarter cell is functioning from the last one week and a helpline has been opened.
Every district should also open cells under the district surveillance officers and chief medical officers to prevent and stop the H1N1 swine flu in Manipur, he said at a press meet at the Directorate of Health, Lamphelpat.
As a part of the preventive measures taken up against swine flu, the State health directorate has instructed to keep separate isolation wards at RIMS, JNIMS and district hospitals to admit swine flu patients, said Okram Ibomcha.
The State health department has started its preparations to prevent swine flu after the neighbouring state of Nagaland has confirmed a swine flu case recently. The anti-dote Fluvir (Oseltamivir capsules IP 75 gm) is available in the State now, with a stock of 2000 strips of the anti-dote available at present, another 5000 capsules has already been ordered from the Central government.
As further precautionary measures against any detected case of the swine flu virus in the State, PPE (personal protection equipments) like mask N-95, three layer masks, goggles mask, cloths and booths are now available in the State, he said.
He said the number of people down with swine flu has reached 631 including the detected case in Nagaland till late last night. The total number of deaths from swine flu in India is 6.7 percent as per the records. The mortality rate has increased where no proper medical facilities are available in States like Madhya Pradesh, with its 25 percent death rate, but in a city like Delhi, the mortality rate is very low at around 0.4 percent only.
The H1N1 virus is dangerous for people below five years and above 65 years; pregnant women, asthma patients and people with kidney transplants are vulnerable as they are in danger of succumbing to the virus more than any other chronic diseased persons, he said.
Swine flu is just like cough fever, if the body temperature of a person drops down with fever rising above 104 degree Fahrenheit or 38 degree Celsius and he does not recover in seven days, it is advisable to admit the person at hospitals for further treatment where he can recover easily with the help of the anti-dote Fluvir (Oseltamivir capsules IP 75 gm) by staying at an isolation room, he added.
The virus can be transferred from one person to another easily through air or saliva etc, so the medical department is advising people to wash their hands properly with soaps. If anybody has to tend to a swine flu patient, he must use N-95 mask and other disposable dresses which must be set on fire after use, he said.
Visiting places affected by swine flu is not recommended and if a person must visit such places, he should do so by wearing preventive kits, he said, adding the N1 H1 virus is transmitted from pig to people but now the virus has mutated into three strains which can be transmitted from people, birds or pigs, making the virus extremely dangerous.
The test for the H1N1 virus is conducted after taking throat swabs of people suspected to be infected with swine flu. The swab will then be sent to Labs at Delhi and Patna. In Manipur, we have a private clinic at RIMS road known as Padma Medicare which in collaboration with SRL, a private Medicare, has its own facilities for testing, he said.
In this regard, the health directorate has taken up an emergency consultation programme at office after which the State Surveillance Officer, Dr Kh Shusilkumar Mangang IDSP (Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme) spoke on the need for initiating preventive and precautionary measures against swine flu to CMOs, Medical Superintendents, DSO (district Surveillance Officers), IDCPs of every districts today at around 1.30 pm.