By IANS,
New Delhi : Keen to prevent a repeat of the Pune incident where a 14-year-old girl succumbed to swine flu due to “delayed treatment”, the government Tuesday said all those who exhibit H1N1 symptoms have to report to government hospitals, but would be allowed home quarantine if the case warrants.
Issuing the revised guidelines on how to tackle swine flu, Joint Secretary Vineet Chawdhry said “clinical assessment” would be carried out on patients only at identified government hospitals.
“We want to address the apprehension and concerns of the people and don’t want a repeat (of the Pune incident),” he told reporters.
He said the revised guidelines were also issued following apprehension by people that they would be kept in isolation wards in hospitals for treatment. However, he said that home quarantine would be allowed only if the government doctor permits.
Chawdhry said that with seasonal flu setting in, more people are reporting sick with swine flu-like symptoms. The clinical assessment would make it clear whether the person was affected with H1N1 or not.
Any person showing flu-like symptoms of cough, sore throat, fever and running nose would be required to go to a designated government facility for clinical examination, he said.
“After the clinical assessment, the designated medical officer would decide about the medication. Except for serious cases, the person would be allowed to go home,” he told reporters.
He said the doctors would also take a call on whether the patient needs to be tested for H1N1 at all.
Chawdhry said if the flu strain is mild, the patient could be given an option to go home or get admitted in the isolation ward.
“In case the patient decides for home isolation and treatment, he or she would be provided with detailed guidelines to be followed by the entire household. They need to provide the contact details of the entire household and their social contacts,” he added.
Chawdhry said in case the test is negative for the flu, the patient would be informed.
“These guidelines have been issued in public interest and would be reviewed from time to time keeping in mind the spread of the pandemic and its severity in the country,” Chawdhry said.
He described the death of the girl as “irreparable loss to the family” and expressed concern and regret.
“The state government has asked for an explanation from the Pune hospital. We are awaiting their comments,” he added.
Rida Shaikh, 14, died at the Jehangir Hospital in Pune Monday. She was suffering from the influenza A (H1N1) virus infection for a fortnight, but was not diagnosed on time. Officials said that her death was due to “delayed treatment”.
Her upset family Tuesday said that they would sue the hospital for negligence.
The union health ministry official said the government has enough Tamiflu stocks. “It is not an issue.”
Chawdhry denied that Tamiflu tablets would be available at chemist stores. “It will be available only through public health facilities,” he clarified.
“We have a stockpile of 10 million Tamiflu tablets, and in addition, we have a banking arrangement of 6 million more,” he said.
He said the ministry had come out with guidelines for schools on what kind of measures to be taken to tackle the flu and schools were asked not to shut down.