Health Minister, Shri Kaul Singh Thakur said that State Government was watchful and fully prepared to tackle the incidence of Swine Flu in the State and all districts had been provided adequate supply of medicines. He said that isolation wards had been formed at Medical Colleges and District Hospitals.
Health Minister was presiding over a meeting of Health officials held here today to review the preparedness for tackling the Swine Flu cases in the State. He said that as many as 102 patients with symptoms of Swine Flu had been reported in IGMC, Shimla during year 2013 out of which 19 samples were found positive for H1N1. Eight cases have been reported from Kangra, five from Solan, four from Shimla, one each from Una and Sirmaur districts. Out of these 19 cases two deaths have been reported at IGMC, Shimla.
Shri Kaul Singh Thakur said that Tamiflu, the medicine used for treatment of Swine Flu cases had been supplied to the districts in adequate quantities three months back. Besides, guidelines of WHO for treatment of such cases had also been circulated to all districts. Extensive IEC in the form of sensitization of BMOs, SMOs, MOs and paramedics had also been done and small orientation meetings for general public were also being organised by the health workers. He added that house to house search and detection of contacts and new cases was being done from the places where cases had been reported. The suspected inmates were put on treatment as per WHO guidelines.
Health Minister said that isolation wards had been set up in Medical Colleges and district hospitals so as to prevent spread of infection. He said that in addition to this, six bedded fully equipped Swine Flu isolation wards with ventilators and specially trained doctors and staff had been created in IGMC. The confirmatory test facility was available in IGMC on free of cost and doctors had been deputed for counselling to combat fear factor among the contacts and general public.