Not just swine flu, even panic is in the air in Pune. The schools are particularly concerned, and not taking any chances.
Not just swine flu, even panic is in the air in Pune. The schools are particularly concerned, and not taking any chances.
Twelve more persons tested positive for swine flu on Tuesday. Two more schools reported one case each, taking the number of affected institutions to six. The count of confirmed cases in the city stands at 72.
Several schools have gone into prevention overdrive, asking students to go through blood tests and get certificates from doctors confirming that they have not contracted the H1N1 infection. But the schools are clearly misinformed because nasal and throat swabs are needed for flu tests, not blood samples.
The fresh cases comprise three students, three parents and the son of a couple that had tested positive earlier. Additional municipal commissioner MS Devnikar told DNA that they suspect that the parents caught the infection from children.
The source of the infection at the two schools — Bal Shikshan Mandir and Springdale School — is yet to be ascertained.
Devnikar said though both the schools have been told to temporarily close down, a final decision will be taken only on Wednesday after an inspection by members of the coordination committee for flu.
Four schools — Abhinava Vidyalaya, Symbiosis School, Sevasadan School and New India School — have already been closed after students there tested positive over the last week.
Devnikar appealed to parents to quarantine their children at home if they show symptoms of flu such as cold and cough.
Private clinics and doctors, meanwhile, say that several schools have asked students to go through tests for H1N1 virus.
“I’ve been getting enquiries from parents about H1N1 tests,” said Dr Nilanjan Banerjee, who is on the panel of a couple of schools in the city. Some schools have created a “totally unwanted situation”, he said.
According to Dr Dilip Sarda, president of the Pune chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), doctors, too, are haphazardly referring normal influenza cases to the Naidu Hospital for Infectious Diseases.
“Forced by schools, parents are insisting that doctors conduct tests for H1N1 infection even in cases of normal influenza,” Sarda said. There is too much of pressure on doctors, he said.
Another IMA member said they have told health officials how misinformed some of the schools are.
Smita Joshi, vice-principal of Vibgyor School, admitted that they have asked parents to get their children screened for H1N1 virus and also get a certificate from a doctor.
“Ours is an international school and many students and parents are NRIs,” Joshi said, justifying the measures. “A few of our students who were to join in August have been told to stay put at their places for at least 10 days.”
The Delhi Public School located at Mohammadwadi has also asked its students, especially those suffering from cough or cold, to get certificates from doctors certifying that they are not suffering from swine flu.
Principal Neelam Chakrabarty said they have asked parents to send the blood samples of their children to National Institute of Virology for tests.
A school located in Kondhwa area of the city has issued a circular, asking parents not to worry as a vaccine for H1N1 flu will soon be ready.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}