The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : H1N1 flu: vigil stepped up

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Tuesday, Jun 30, 2009
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

H1N1 flu: vigil stepped up

Special Correspondent

More doctors posted to airports; information centres opened

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Health Department has intensified vigil at airports, railway stations and ports to detect cases of influenza A (H1N1), Director of Health Services K. Shylaja has said.

Dr. Shylaja and Health Secretary Vishwas Mehta told presspersons here on Monday that three passengers who reached Nedumbassery airport in the morning were suspected to be infected. Samples of their naso pharyngeal swab had been sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) for confirmation. The results would be available within a day. There was no need for any panic, they said.

Since the time precautionary measures were put in place to prevent the spread of the flu, 4,42,519 persons had reached the State through the three international airports till June 26. Nearly 1,15,070 passengers came from places where the fever had been reported. As many as 3,67,054 persons were examined and 38 put in quarantine. Their naso pharyngeal swab was sent to the NICD for confirmation. Except six persons, all others tested negative.

Considering the arrival of more flights at night, more doctors had been posted on duty. Information centres too had been opened at airports, railway stations and ports.

They said hospitals were getting a number of calls to know the details of the medicines given to the infected patients.

However, these have not been released in the market on the directions of the World Health Organisation as these can be administered only to those who have tested positive. An awareness drive has been launched to prevent the spread of the disease, they said.

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