Tamil Nadu underreporting H1N1 deaths

[Ronan Kelly]

Nice to see this starting to come out.

TN under-reporting H1N1 deaths
Pushpa Narayan, TNN, Sep 2, 2010, 04.33am IST

CHENNAI: H1N1 continues to kill people in your city, but someone doesn't want you to know it. Test results and death certificates in TOI's possession show that at least three women died of H1N1 in the city in the last three weeks, but their names are yet to be listed in the H1N1 death records.

This means that Tamil Nadu, which has been taking credit for keeping the viral infection under control, has been under-reporting H1N1 cases. The state has shown just seven H1N1 deaths as against 767 in Maharashtra, 346 in Gujarat, 225 in Karnataka, 118 each in Delhi and Kerala, and 85 in Andhra Pradesh since May 2009. While director of public health Dr RT Porkai Pandian maintains that only six people in the state have so far died because of the infection ? and all from outside Chennai ? since January 2010, TOI has accessed medical results of three women in the city who tested positive for H1N1 and died soon after.

Annapoorna (32) died on August 29 in the Government General Hospital after being shifted from CSI Rainy Hospital, Royapuram. Four days ago, Zainabush Sakira, a resident of Nungambakkam, died in Apollo Hospitals, Greames Road. K Hemalatha, hailing from Cuddalore, died in Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Nandanam, on August 11. Samples of all the three women had tested positive for H1N1 at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine. However, when asked about these three cases, Dr Pandian said: "The state did not have them on record."

After Annapoorna's death, Chennai Corporation health officials visited her neighbourhood in Seven Wells and collected swabs from 17 people for tests.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-deaths/articleshow/6477744.cms#ixzz0yKAXZBXw

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tamil Nadu underreporting H1N1 deaths

The official number of H1N1 fatalities reported by TN since May 2009 is 7 from 2468 cases. Other States with similar numbers of cases: Haryana 38 fatalities from 2001 cases, Kerala 118 fatalities from 2885 cases.
In our thread here; http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129690 we tracked at least 25 likely h1n1 fatal cases from May 2009 to July 2010.

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tamil Nadu underreporting H1N1 deaths

:tiphat: Jen147 @ SF

Tamil Nadu to have online registry for H1N1
Pushpa Narayan, TNN, Sep 3, 2010, 02.54am IST

CHENNAI: The state health department will soon set up an 'active H1N1 online registry' networking hospitals, laboratories and the Directorate of Public Health (DPH). The registry will ensure all cases and deaths are updated online every day without compromising on patient confidentiality, health secretary VK Subburaj said on Thursday.

TOI had reported on Thursday how the health authorities were not showing H1N1 deaths in the city. Three women had died of the infection between August 11 and 29 in city hospitals, an investigation by TOI had found. "There seems to have been some problems in our report consolidation. We will hold a meeting with all private hospitals next week to discuss this. We will make sure that H1N1 positive cases and deaths are updated every day and patients are tracked," Subburaj said.

Meanwhile, director of public health Dr RT Porkai Pandiyan said an inquiry had been initiated into why the three H1N1 deaths in the city were not reported to the DPH. "We are expecting a report from the Chennai Corporation health officer," he said. Meanwhile, the DPH would ensure that all private and government hospitals are sensitized about reporting such cases. "It is a violation of the Public Health Act if they do not report deaths of notifiable diseases. Our intention is not to punish hospitals, but to rope them in for better networking ," Dr Pandiyan said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ine-registry-for-H1N1/articleshow/6482716.cms

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tamil Nadu underreporting H1N1 deaths

While underreporting in private hospitals is undoubtedly a problem, it seems somewhat unfair that they are being blamed by the Directorate of Public Health. The State of Tamil Nadu has seen around 30 fatalities (counting 9 confirmed from Puducherry), but has reported only 7 to Central. Leadership should come from the top.

A(H1N1) flu: private hospitals under scrutiny
Ramya Kannan
40 health inspectors to visit them everyday

The Directorate of Public Health has increased surveillance in private hospitals in the city to keep a closer tab on A(H1N1) influenza cases.

A total of 40 health inspectors, in and around Chennai, have been tasked with visiting major private hospitals and those in the periphery everyday to ensure that these hospitals suspect A(H1N1) in patients who show the symptoms. ?The idea is to intensify surveillance, especially in the private sector, where we are not convinced there is 100 per cent reporting of A(H1N1) cases,? R. Durairaj, joint director, Directorate of Public Health, told The Hindu.

More recently, late identification and testing of patients who report with symptoms for A(H1N1) was also attributed as a significant cause for death. The health inspectors are responsible for ensuring that the private hospitals test for the infection early and provide appropriate treatment for patients who test positive.

The health inspectors will also have to check if adequate quantities of drugs (Tamiflu), and vaccines are available, Director of Public Health, R.T. Porkaipandian said.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article793370.ece