Pune has adequate services to tackle H1N1, say experts

After the recent surge in H1N1 cases and 13 deaths in the city, a team of three experts from New Delhi visited Pune on Tuesday to review preparedness for handling H1N1 cases and trends of the viral disease.

The team led by Dr Avdhesh Kumar, additional director general, ministry of health and family welfare along with two senior officers from National Centre for Disease Control, Dr Pradeep Khasnobis and Dr Amit Karad, visited Sassoon General Hospital and Naidu Hospital. They also met senior officials at the directorate of health services.

“We are here to gather information about H1N1 cases and their management. We find the services to be adequate in the city. After Pune, we will visit other areas where H1N1 cases are being reported from and based on the data collected from all places, we will prepare a report. It’s only after we study the disease pattern and trends everywhere that we will decide if there is a need to introduce new guidelines,” said Kumar.

When asked about the reason for resurgence of the disease in various parts of the country, he said it is expected to see a few cases of swine flu. “The virus is endemic and we do expect to see positive cases being reported. Certain environmental factors are also responsible for its resurgence. However we have no reports of any sort of mutation. The virus remains the same,” said Kumar.

The team added that currently the ABC formula for screening, administering of Tamiflu tablets and admissions of H1N1 positive patients would not be changed.

Officials from Pune district briefed the central team that fewer positive H1N1 cases have been reported in the last week.

“Swine flu suspected patients visiting outpatient department have reduced from 150 to 40 to 50 patients daily,” said Dr D Barate, medical superintendent, Naidu Hospital.