The Hindu : Front Page : Mumbai schools, colleges to be closed

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Thursday, Aug 13, 2009
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Mumbai schools, colleges to be closed

Special Correspondent

Symptomatic treatment for swine flu from now; 22 private hospitals to make available over 100 beds

Parties have decided not to hold large public celebrations for Janmashtami
Screening and sample collection services to be extended to 10 rural hospitals

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

Tackling another threat: Masked Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel guard the Arthur Road jail, where the trial of Ajmal Amir ‘Kasab,’ the lone surviving gunman of the Mumbai terror attacks, is in progress. The jail is opposite the Kasturba Hospital where swine flu patients are undergoing treatment.

MUMBAI: After Pune, rising panic in Mumbai due to swine flu has led the government to close schools, colleges and coaching classes from August 13 to 19, and multiplexes and theatres for three days from Thursday. A decision on closing down malls was not taken, as all of them were not centrally air-conditioned.

The Shiv Sena, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party have decided not to hold large public celebrations of “dahi handi” on the occasion of Janmashtami on Friday.

Meanwhile, 22 private hospitals in Mumbai which have agreed to treat swine flu, will make available over 100 to 150 beds. They will be trained in screening and treating patients shortly. Five medical teams will inspect the hospitals and check if they abide by the Central guidelines. These hospitals should be open for treatment within eight days. In Pune, too, nine hospitals have offered to treat patients.

With the largest number of swine flu deaths taking place in Maharashtra, the government has decided to give symptomatic treatment for A(HINI), after consultation with a Central team.

Marginal increase

Since the percentage of positive cases has increased marginally, there is a change in the protocol for treatment, according to Additional Chief Secretary (Public Health) Sharvaree Gokhale.

Briefing the media on Wednesday, she said a new protocol would be finalised by Thursday by the Centre. The progression of the disease changed over time and after seeing the last few deaths, especially the one in Nashik, it was decided that people could be treated on the basis of symptoms, she said.

“We may not need to take a sample every time, unless the patient is very serious,” she explained. If the doctors feel the patient can be put on a dose of Tamiflu without a swab being taken, they will do so. The sample is not necessary,” she said. People will be given therapeutic doses. For this, the protocol will be in place by Thursday morning and the symptoms will be explained to the concerned doctors.

“To insist on a sample if the patient is exhibiting symptoms of the disease is infructuous,” she remarked. Admitting that there was fear of resistance and possible side-effects, Sanjay Oak, Director of Civic Hospitals, said administering the drug was the best option and benefits far outweigh side-effects.

The government has also decided to extend screening and sample collection centres to 10-12 rural hospitals in Pune, Satara, Thane and Nashik districts. Stocks of Tamiflu will also be made available in these areas.

Another issue of concern is the delay of three days in getting test results. Ms. Gokhale denied that the National Institute of Virology had refused to test samples, and said that in urgent cases reports were made available in six hours.

Private laboratories were being considered for testing samples, but the Centre still had to take a call on this after examining the facilities. The government could not compromise on the quality on testing. Symptomatic treatment would continue even if private laboratories were allowed to test, she said.

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