Are we ready to tackle the flu?

The death of a 14-year-old in Pune has triggered a fear that is spreading faster than the virus. On Wednesday, hundreds of Puneites rushed to get tested. Across the country, governments tried to pull up their socks and put in place stringent measures to check the spread. DNA reports what is happening around the country.

New Delhi
Most of the panic is in schools, since the infection has got around from students. The Pune girl’s death has made institutions even more nervous. All schools have coached teachers on flu symptoms, how to identify a child showing them and what to do with him/her. Children have been asked to inform teachers if they’ve travelled abroad or been around relatives or friends who have. Teachers have been told to be informal or discreet with students unwilling to reveal information. All schools have stocked their clinics with medicines, oxygen cylinders and an ambulance. Many parents have forbidden children from visiting the swimming pool or malls. All doctors have been asked to refer patients to government hospitals.

Andhra Pradesh
The first flu case was reported on May 16. Since then, 60 more people have been infected. Initially, people were apprehensive about the flu, now they know that it has mostly affected international travellers. “There were some initial hiccups. But the machinery is prepared to handle any situation,” said a health officer. However, there have been some cluster cases, which the government is trying to isolate. Recently, a software engineer infected seven of his friends within three days. He passed through the airport undetected, but started feeling unwell a day later, by which time the damage had been done. Medical teams are being extra careful with children, as they are more susceptible.

Karnataka
Till Tuesday evening, 54 cases were confirmed in Bangalore. “We have cured 52 patients and are prepared to handle any outbreak,” said Dr TS Chelvaraju, joint director of health. The city has 29 beds for flu patients but another 26 will be arranged. In case that isn’t enough, the government may vet private hospitals and ask them to admit patients. International schools, due to resume after summer break, have notified parents about new measures to tackle a possible outbreak. One school has asked all students to get no-objection from the health department.

Kerala
Though Kerala has reported 48 confirmed cases so far, swine flu is still a secondary threat since state is struggling with a variety of monsoon-fevers. Hundreds of people in the northern districts are down with chikungunya, dengue and leptospirosis. The health department, which set up quarantine centres at airports in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode has expanded the drive to all districts after three cases in Thiruvananthapuram were found to have come from within the community. “We are launching an awareness campaign on H1N1. Since no student has been infected, we have not thought up a plan for schools,” said Dr Anil Kumar, additional director of health services in charge of public health

Chennai
A 34-year-old from Periyanaikanpalayam in Coimbatore is the latest to be a government hospital with suspected symptoms. The number of infections has risen to 33. “The man was working in Dubai. His throat swab and blood samples will be sent for tests,”  said the hospital’s medical officer Dr Sivaprakasam P. All confirmed cases were among people who arrived from abroad, said state health secretary KV Subburaj. Parents and doctors have been asked to send/refer children to government hospitals if they complain of fever.

Gujarat
The student’s death in Pune has triggered fear among Amdavadis. The newest case here is of a 27-year-old doctor who was checking passengers at the international airport. With this, has the number of cases has reached eight.The president of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr MR Kanani, said, “A month back we sent flu guidelines to 19,000 doctors. We also asked the government to distribute pamphlets, but they refused as it will create panic.” Kanani said screening at the airport isn’t up to the mark. State health secretary, Ravi Saxena said, “It was not possible to check every passenger and everybody does not need to be checked.”

West Bengal
Though five cases have been reported, authorities have not been lax. Since all suspected cases were reported from people who had travelled abroad, the airport at Kolkata and dock complexes at Kolkata and Haldia have been put on high alert. A team of 20 doctors, three nurses and two health inspectors are stationed here. Separate screening chambers and isolation rooms have also been set up. Additional facilities have been provided at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kolkata, the centre for treating swine flu. The health department has taken up an awareness campaign for parents and school authorities.

Uttar Pradesh
The government has imposed the Epidemic Act which gives officials authority to isolate patients against their wishes. “This was needed to ensure that no case goes undetected,” says UP’s director general (health) Dr IS Srivastava. Lucknow CMO AK Shukla said, “There is a serious threat and we can’t take chances.” The health department has told private hospitals, pathology centres to inform the administration if they come across any case. No alerts have been issued in schools and colleges, as “the incidence in UP does not warrant such emergency measures.”

Jammu & Kashmir
J&K was the first to sound an alert three months ago because it is a tourist destination. A woman and a child, who got infected during a Thailand trip, are the only cases so far. They have been cured. The government set up Rapid Reaction Teams (RRTs) at district headquarters to react swiftly to emergencies. “There is no panic in Kashmir. As far as students are concerned, there is nothing to fear,” said Dr MA Wani, director of the health.

Orissa
Influenza H1N1 has been of academic interest to people, since no cases have been reported here.  A series of adverts by the government has made people curious and some started inquiring about the infection. The state is on high alert, with doctors posted at its ports and the airport. No special steps are being taken with regard to children, said Dr Bikash Patnaik, the officer supervising the operation.