Civil Surgeon holds meet, takes stock as swine flu cases rise

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 14

The Civil Surgeon held a swine flu review meeting with health officials here today as the number of cases is on the rise in the district.

During the meeting, Civil Surgeon Manjit Singh discussed steps to check the upsurge of cases over the last week.  He reviewed the preparedness of all nodal officers in government institutions in the district to control the spread of the H1N1 virus.

Officials of the Indian Medical Council, Bhagwant Singh, Azata Shatru and Allopathic Private Association president Neeraj were also present in the meeting.

The Civil Surgeon said, “I have told officials to immediately start treatment of patients showing even a slightest of the swine flu symptoms. I have also directed them that all Category C patients should be referred to tertiary health centres.”

The home district of Health and Family Welfare Minister Brahm Mohindra has the maximum swine flu cases. Till this evening, 10 swine flu cases have been reported in the district. In Punjab, the count is 46. 

On Saturday, a 56-year-old woman from the Samana Block had died at Government Rajindra Hospital here.

Manjit Singh said all private health institutions had been asked to immediately report swine flu patients to the district health department. 

District Epidemiologist Gurmeet said, “All kinds of logistic, including personal protection equipment, vial transfer medium, Tamiflu tablets, N-95 masks and triple layer masks, have been provided to the staff concerned for proper management and testing of H1N1 patients.”