H1N1: is Guj ready?

DNA approached the authorities of hospitals run by the state government and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and asked them about their preparedness in case of a swine flu outbreak in Gujarat. Here’s what they had to say…

Stock of medication...
Officials of Civil and other municipal hospitals in Ahmedabad did not divulge the figures of the medicines for H1N1 in stock. “We have enough stock of medicine to handle any situation. The facilities and medication are adequate for treatment as well as precaution,” was the common answer.

Is this adequate?
Superintendent of VS hospital, Dr MH Makwana refused to comment on this. He disconnected the call after saying that deputy municipal commissioner Capt Dilip Mahajan will answer such questions. Mahajan, however, was unable to answer the same.

Experts on hand...
The authorities of Civil hospital have constituted a rapid rescue team, consisting of a physician, paediatrician, pathologist and other experts, to tackle cases of swine flu. Others
at the hospital are also being trained to
be ready for an emergency. AMC authorities and the superintendent of VS hospital were
not ready to share information pertaining to this question.

Precautions in Guj...
Civil hospital has around 20 isolation wards ready to handle cases of swine flu. Authorities of the hospital said they were ready with more facilities in case of a greater number of patients.

Immediate action to combat flu
Line of treatment
Dr Bharat Parmar, who is part of the core rescue team formed by Civil hospital, said that in the case of a person suspected to have contracted the H1N1 virus, “he or she will first be placed in the isolation ward and the person’s travel history will be checked to see whether he or she has arrived from an area with cases of swine flu. Secondly, samples will be sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), New Delhi, for conformation of whether the case is positive or negative.” The patient is then administered Tamiflu, a medication used to treat swine flu, and antibiotic medicines to control other infections, if any. The patient is kept on a fluid diet instead of food. The results of the aforementioned tests are usually available within two days. Depending on these, the doctors decide on further medication for the patient.

Be aware of your flu
Swine flu patients suffer from upper-respiratory infections and gastroenteral problems. They also develop coughs, colds, fever and so on. Swine flu cases in children can be detected within two days, but this may take longer in adults. As in the case of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and bird flu, swine flu patients too may develop pneumonia, which may lead to death. “We have ventilators to deal with such cases,” Dr Parmar said.

“In case of multiple cases of pneumonia in a family, or if a person has severe respiratory problems, coupled with a foreign trip or contact with a foreigner in either situation, it may be swine flu,” he said.

Quote Unquote
“We have 12,000 doses of Tamiflu and reserved 280 beds. We are following the guidelines of the government of India and the World Health Organisation."
 —Jaynarayan Vyas, heath and family welfare minister


“We have acquired medicine stocks and have started orientation of health workers. Gujarat is free from H1N1, but we cannot rule out possibility of future cases.”
 —RS Saxena, principal secretary, health and family welfare dept


“We will do the needful in municipal hospitals. We do not have separate isolation wards for swine flu patients, but will arrange these as per requirements. We have sent samples of the suspect swine flu case to the NICD, New Delhi. [The reports have come back negative].”
—Dilip Mahajan, deputy municipal commissioner


“People should use quality masks to cover nose and mouth as this will control spread of infection. It is recommended to wash hands with antibacterial soap or spirit."
—Dr Manish Agrawal, medical director, Medilink Hospital


“Civil hospital is equipped to fight swine flu. We have reserved 20 isolation wards. The hospital has a rapid action team for investigation of suspected patients.”
—KM Mehariya, deputy superintendent, Civil hospital