The Hindu : Front Page : Swine flu: 4 more nodal centres

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Saturday, Aug 15, 2009
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Swine flu: 4 more nodal centres

HYDERABAD: In an attempt to ease the pressure on Government Chest Hospital in Erragadda, the nodal centre for treatment and identification of swine flu patients, authorities have designated four area hospitals in different locations of the twin cities as screening centres.

The area hospitals in Vansathalipuram, Kondapur, King Koti and the Gandhi Hospital in Musheerabad will henceforth screen patients suffering from swine flu-like symptoms, from Saturday. This decision was taken in view of the sudden surge in the number of patients turning up at the Chest Hospital.

Doctors at these area hospitals will take a call on whether to refer any patient to the Chest Hospital for testing, sample collection and isolation.

The isolation and sample collection of identified patients, however, will be done at Chest Hospital, authorities clarified. Efforts are on to procure diagnostic kits to detect common influenza at the four area hospitals for quick diagnosis. There has been no change in the airport screening programme, authorities maintained.

The Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) is expected to start testing for swine flu from August 20, authorities said. “From now on, patients need not come from far off places to Chest Hospital. Depending on their locality, they can visit the above four hospitals,” State coordinator for swine flu K. Subhakar said.

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