Back from NASA, 7 Punjab students bring swine flu
POSTED June 16, 2009 - 10:54 | POSTED BY Jyoti Pal
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on June 16, 2009 - 14:38
Leaving nothing to chance, the health authorities conducted tests on the entire thirty four member contingent.
Threat of cluster formation
The foreign trip has not ended on a positive note for these seven victims who appear to have picked up the infection during the tour. Now the bigger concern and a challenge for the administration is to prevent the spread of simultaneous infections resulting in the formation of a local cluster.
To that end, the state health staff made it a point to pay a visit to the homes of all the children who had flu symptoms. 196 family members and close relatives of these children were administered the anti-viral drug oseltamivir as a preventive measure.
A local cluster is defined as two or more persons linked to each other and showing flu symptoms within 14 days in the same geographical area.
Rapid response
A senior health official from the health ministry informed that a central rapid response team has been sent to Jalandhar to thwart the spread of the virus.
The team will work along with the state health authorities and would help the latter in the implementation of guidelines designed to stop the spread of the infection.
Elaborating the various measures put in place, the official said, “State health authorities have since been alerted, and a separate isolation ward has been set up in the government hospital in Jalandhar to treat cases with symptoms of swine flu.”
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has urged the citizens of India, especially the students, to postpone all foreign visits till this virulent disease is under control internationally.
He said, “Till this disease is controlled globally. I would like to request young people, from educational institutions going abroad, that they can suspend their visits.”
