H1N1 tests no longer mean isolation

Anyone showing symptoms of influenza, including seasonal flu, and pneumonia will have to report to a government hospital for swine flu screening, the central government said on Tuesday while announcing fresh guidelines to deal with H1N1 cases in the country.

Announced a day after India reported its first swine flu death — that of Reeda Shaikh, 14, in Pune — the revised guidelines have done away with mandatory isolation of suspected cases at designated hospitals. The government has also relaxed norms to allow patients with mild swine flu to get treated at home. However, doctors will take a final decision in such cases.

“Since seasonal influenza is setting in, more people will be reporting sick. We have made testing guidelines simpler so that there is no inconvenience to the public. Also, people are apprehensive of isolation and want to avoid screening,” said Vineet Chawdhry, joint secretary, ministry of health.

Till now, all suspected cases were kept in isolation wards until cleared by laboratory tests. Finding this inconvenient, many people were rushing to private hospitals or hiding their illness, Chawdhry said. From now on, suspected cases will be asked to leave after giving samples, and only the confirmed cases will be isolated.

Under the new guidelines, a flu patient will have to go to a government hospital where doctors will assess if the person needs tests or is suffering from seasonal flu. The suspected cases will be told to remain confined at  home till cleared by the laboratory tests. This will not be applicable for those identified at airports.