MUNI THE BOSS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: No need to panic. Situation under control. Swine flu has caused more casualties among pregnant women as they failed to report on time to the hospitals. These are the preliminary findings of the Central team that visited Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam to assess the swine flu situation.
The team, that toured the district extensively early this month following the widespread reporting of swine flu, particularly among pregnant women, has found that if there was early detection of the virus, the casualty would have been lesser among them. Out of the 20-odd deaths reported at the time of the visit of the Central team, nine were pregnant women from Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts.
Based on the fact that more casualties were being reported among pregnant women, the Health Department had decided to seek the help of the Centre in determining the exact reasons behind the spread of virus among this group of women.
``The average period by which treatment was started for the pregnancy-related H1N1 deaths was four to five days. Because of cases reporting late to hospitals and also because of the general reluctance to start medicines for pregnant women, the casualty or spreading of virus has been more,’’ the report, which was sent to the State health authorities here on Sunday, said.
The Central team had visited the hospitals and schools of the district where more cases were reported, particularly the Tribal Residential School at Peringamala, where numerous students were tested positive for swine flu.
The report has suggested additional and refresher training for doctors, particularly gynaecologists and obstetricians, and other health care workers for early case detection and treatment using Oseltamivir. It has also recommended increased fever, influenza and severe respiratory infection surveillance in the district and also in Kollam. It has asked the authorities to ensure the availability of Oseltamivir till the PHC-level, specially in these two districts.
The report has expressed satisfaction over the way the Government of India and World Health Organisation guidelines have been followed here. The Central team has also expressed satisfaction over the large number of treatment facilities available in public and private sector in both districts and also stated that the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology is well-equipped and has trained staff for H1N1 testing.
The team, consisting of Dr Sunil Gupta, Joint Director National Communicable Disease Centre (NCDC); Dr Pradeep Khasnobis, Epidemiologist, NCDC, and Dr B.V. Tandale, Virologist, National Institute for Virology, Pune, had visited the districts following the recommendation from the Health Department.
trivandrum@expressbuzz.com