Health Dept issues swine flu advisory to city schools

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 20

Taking note of swine flu cases, the District Health Department has issued an advisory to all schools and colleges in the district to take necessary measures to stop its spread.

“As students are most vulnerable, schools have been asked to spread awareness among them about the symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus (swine flu) and preventive measures,” says the advisory.

As per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the schools, colleges and other educational institutions have been advised to contain and manage cases of the H1N1 flu virus.

The ministry has directed schools and colleges to create awareness among students on swine flu and any student or staff member showing symptoms like fever, cold, runny nose and having difficulty in breathing should be allowed to stay at home for seven to 10 days. The institutes should not insist for medical certificates.

Moreover, the institutes should also monitor the health status of a student or staff member who might have come in contact with a suspected case.

As per the directions, in case of students staying in hostels, institutes would monitor the health status of not only students but also of care providers. It has to be ensured that the care provider wears face mask and washes hands regularly. It might not be advisable to send the boarders back to home as it would spread the H1N1 flu virus further.

They have been directed to report such cases to the district health officer and advised to discourage students from going on excursions to the affected areas and countries.

Advising students to wash their hands frequently in the day and teaching them how to cough and sneeze and not to touch the eyes nose and mouth with unwashed hands are some of the dos and don’ts.

The first swine flu case of the season was reported in the district a few days ago. The District Health Department has issued an advisory asking the residents to be alert and protect themselves from the H1N1 flu virus.

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