Following the revised guidelines of the union ministry of health & family welfare, the Gujarat government has issued fresh guideline for testing of the swine (H1N1) flu in the state.
The present guidelines stipulated that a person suspected of H1N1 needs to be referred to an identified government health facility. He/she needs to be kept in an isolation facility in that hospital and, if found positive, is treated accordingly.
Under the new guidelines, any person with flu like symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat, cold or running nose, should go to a designated government facility for giving his/her sample for testing for the H1N1 virus.
After clinical assessment, the designated medical officer would decide on the need for testing. Except for cases that are severe, the patient would be allowed to go home (this was not allowed under the existing guidelines).
The sample of the suspect case would be collected and sent to the notified laboratory for testing. If tested as positive for H1N1, and in case the symptoms are mild, the patient would be informed and given the option of admission into the hospital or isolation and treatment at his own house.
In case the patient opts for house isolation and treatment, he/she would be provided with detailed guidelines/safety measures to be strictly adhered to by the entire household of the patient. He/she would have to provide full contact details of his/her entire household. The household and social contacts would be provided with the preventive treatment.
Notwithstanding the above guidelines, the decision of the doctor of the notified hospital about admitting the patient would be final. In case the test is negative, the patient will accordingly be informed.
