On Tuesday, the issue of spate of H1N1 infections in the city took centre stage at the third general body meeting of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Cutting across party lines, corporators questioned the civic administration on the seriousness of the issue and preparedness.

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Dilip Barate of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) urged the civic body to take cognisance of the gravity of the situation, while Rajendra Wagaskar of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) asked the civic body to stock up on Tamiflu tablets and vaccines.

Replying to the debate, acting medical officer of health (MOH) of PMC’s health department, Dr ST Pardeshi said that although there has been a rise in number of patients testing positive for the HINI virus during the last couple of weeks, there was no reason for panic. “Though we have seen a rise in the number of people testing positive for the virus, yet in comparison to the peak of the pandemic, these numbers are not significant. There is no need to get alarmed,” he said.

Pardeshi assured there was ample stock of medicines and vaccines to tide over the present situation. He clarified that the National Institute of Virology (NIV) has advised against mass vaccination for the city.

“The virus has now become endemic to the city, which means H1N1 is part of the virus climate. Hence mass vaccination, use of masks is not advised as a necessity by NIV officials,” said Pardeshi.

He said 60 isolation beds were available for admission of patients at Naidu Hospital, while 47 civic dispensaries had been alerted across the city to look out for people with symptoms of swine flu.

When contacted by DNA to know about the status of intensive care unit (ICU) beds for H1N1 patients, Dr Pardeshi clarified that none were available in any government or civic-run hospitals as of now.

“The ICU at Sassoon Hospital isn’t available because of repair work. We have expedited process for central oxygen supply at Kamla Nehru Hospital, so that we can at least provide ICU beds at the hospital,” he said.

Meanwhile, 25 people tested positive for H1N1 in the district on Tuesday. Of these, 23 were in Pune and 2 in Pimpri-Chinchwad, taking the total number of positive cases to 63 since March 1. Five people have been put on ventilator. Two patients admitted to Prayag and KEM Hospital continue to be in critical condition. Two patients have been put on ventilator at Aditya Birla Hospital and 1 at Global Hospital. Seventeen people are admitted to isolation wards at various hospitals. Thirteen people have been cured and discharged, while 26 are taking treatment on out patient department (OPD) basis. The death toll remains at five since no new deaths were reported. In all, 1,199 people were screened on Tuesday and 540 were given Tamiflu tablets.