Spurt in H1N1 deaths prods PMC to act

[Ronan Kelly]

Spurt in H1N1 deaths prods PMC to act
TNN 19 September 2009, 07:49am IST


PUNE: Municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade has issued orders to all private practitioners and private hospitals in the city to immediately send
patients with H1N1 flu like symptoms to PMC-run screening centres with a written note and ensure that the patient visits the screening centre.

In a public notice, Zagade said that he is issuing the order as per the special powers given to him by the state government under section 319 of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations (BPMC) Act, 1949.

Zagade has issued orders for private hospitals where swine flu patients are being treated. "If any serious patient being treated in a private hospital is suspected to have H1N1 infection, the hospital should immediately contact the PMC medical officer on phone numbers 26058243 or 26058842 to inform about giving Tamiflu treatment," the notice states.

Zagade told TOI, that although the PMC is receiving co-operation from private practitioners and hospitals, the orders are being issued after the officials analysed the deaths that have occurred in the last few days.

"We have been taking all possible steps like starting screening centres and administering Tamiflu tablets to suspected patients without waiting for the throat swab result. After analysing the last few deaths, we found that the time between appearance of symptoms in the patient and administering of Tamiflu has been increased for some reason. Our aim is to reduce that delay."

"The time-gap can be reduced only when the private doctors refer the patient to screening centres immediately and ensure that the patient visits the centre. If the patient is administered Tamiflu within a few hours, then the deaths can surely be averted," Zagade said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...aths-prods-PMC-to-act/articleshow/5028804.cms

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Spurt in H1N1 deaths prods PMC to act

H1N1: PCMC to train 3,600 students, teachers as volunteers
TNN 19 September 2009, 07:38am IST

PUNE: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has decided to train students and teachers to work as health volunteers to help combat the
spread of swine flu. The municipal corporation is planning to train 3,600 such volunteers.

One student and one teacher from every class in every school within the municipal limits will be selected for training, municipal health officer K Nagkumar said. He pointed out that the World Health Organisation has warned about the possibility of the second outbreak of H1N1. As a precautionary measure, the PCMC has decided to train select students and teachers, he said.

The training will focus mainly on identifying the symptoms of H1N1, finding the possible reasons, and helping patients to contact the designated hospitals. The patients will be categorised and treated accordingly. The volunteers will also find out which students are absent and the reasons why they are absent. If the absent student is suffering from H1N1 symptoms, treatment will be provided accordingly, he said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...eachers-as-volunteers/articleshow/5028796.cms

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Spurt in H1N1 deaths prods PMC to act

Swine flu overshadows Navratri festivities
PTI 19 September 2009, 12:15pm IST


PUNE: Struggling to contain the spread of swine flu, the city administration is caught in a piquant situation on the issue of granting permission
for pandals for Navratri puja and 'garba' dance as the crowd-pulling events may lead to a spurt in cases of the virus.

The district administration, which had so far been claiming that the situation was under control, has now officially admitted that it was not so.

"The situation has aggravated after the mobbing witnessed during the Ganesh festival. Now it is alarming," Collector Chandrakant Dalvi said.

Since any decision on a ban on festivities involves two civic corporations - Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the twin industrial township of Pimpri-Chichwad (PCMC), the district authorities are now busy holding consultations with the authorities concerned to find a way out without hurting religious sentiments of people.

Despite constant appeals from the administration, Pune, known for revelries during Ganesh festival, saw people coming out in large numbers on the immersion day, leading to overcrowding and transmission of the virus, health authorities said.

After the Ganesh festivities, the city saw a disturbing spurt in the number of positive cases. Fifty-four people have died of swine flu in the city since August three.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-Navratri-festivities/articleshow/5029940.cms