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Pune, Satara districts notified under Epidemic Diseases Act

Meena Menon

Show-cause notice issued to Pune hospital in swine flu death case

Photo: Special Arrangement

IN DESPAIR: (From left): Shaken and anguished, Rida Shaikh’s grandmother Saida Shaikh, aunt Ayesha Shaikh and father Sajid Shaikh presented their case at a press conference in Pune on Tuesday. —

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajendra Shingane said on Tuesday that the government had issued a show-cause notice to Jehangir Hospital in Pune, where the country’s first death due to swine flu occurred and Ruby Hall Clinic, which tested the 14-year-old girl’s throat swabs and found them to be negative for the swine flu virus.

Dr. Shingane said action against them would be decided based on their reply. The Law Department was also being consulted. He declined to commit himself on the kind of action, saying only that “100 per cent action will be taken.”

At a press conference, Dr. Shingane and Additional Chief Secretary (Public Health) Sharvaree Gokhale said the girl would have survived had she been admitted to a public hospital and given prompt treatment. They advised people who showed symptoms of swine flu to go to public hospitals and not seek treatment in private institutions.

The government has notified Pune and Satara districts affected areas under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897. This is an enabling provision allowing the State to take certain steps in the event of an epidemic.

All the girl’s primary contacts, 78 in the nursing home and 27 personal, were advised home quarantine and preventive treatment. Instructions were given to keep the students of St. Anne’s, where the girl studied, under surveillance and watch out for symptoms of swine flu. The school has been closed.

“It’s not our fault,” the Minister said. The girl was diagnosed with swine flu and treated nearly 11 days after the primary symptoms manifested. Timely treatment was vital. It was also not known how she contracted the virus.

Dr. Shingane said that there was no reason to panic and if people showed symptoms, they should visit the nearest public hospital. The school should have also notified the public authorities, he said.

“Don’t they read the newspapers,” wondered Ms. Gokhale.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan expressed his sorrow at the death of the girl. He said the State was capable of dealing with the disease and there was no need to panic.

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