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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
 Posted - 08/05/2009 : 12:33:06
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Swine flu victim's Pune school reports one more case
IANS 5 August 2009, 10:05pm IST
PUNE: A student of the school where Rida Shaikh, India's first swine flu victim was studying was confirmed to have caught the A(H1N1) influenza virus, an official said here.
The 15-year-old girl, a student of the St. Anne School, was admitted to the Naidu Hospital, the city's only government identified health facility for communicable diseases, and was put in isolation, Pune Municipal Corporation health officer S.R. Pardeshi said.
The central health ministry earlier said three patients were confirmed for swine flu in Pune - two children below 14 and a 52-year-old woman.
Shaikh, 14, died of swine flu on Monday. The city has been gripped by a panic with a large number of people thronging the government identified swine flu testing centre throughout Wednesday. |
Edited by - S.ravi on 08/09/2009 08:03:47 |
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2009 : 02:03:20
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Nine more test positive for swine flu in Pune; 118 confirmed cases
Pune (PTI): Nine more persons, including three girl students of St Anne's school which recorded the first fatality of swine flu here, have tested positive for the virus even as names of two schools were added to the list of affected educational establishments, health officials said on Thursday.
The three schoolmates of the deceased Reeda Shaikh, the class nine student of St Anne's who died of the infection on August 3, belong to different classes, leading to concern that the virus may have spread in the school.
Two more schools -St Helena and Loyola- have reported one each positive case of the virus, according to Dr Ravindra Katti, State Health Department official.
The number of total positive H1N1 infections registered in the city now stands at 118. This represents the largest chunk of the 172 swine flu infections in the State, which has promulgated Epidemic Diseases Act in the Western Maharashtra districts of Pune and Satara.
Rattled by the death of the 14-year-old student due to swine flu, people continued to rush to civic Naidu hospital to get tested for the virus.
Health authorities have issued instructions to private clinics not to refer all cases of cough and cold to Naidu hospital.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2009 : 06:50:06
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TN designates King Institute, CMC as A(H1N1) flu test centres
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI: The State government on Thursday reiterated its advice to people to approach either the King Institute of Preventive Medicine in Guindy here or the Christian Medical College, Vellore, for subjecting to medical tests anyone suspected to have influenza A (H1N1).
The tests were not carried out in any other private hospitals and laboratories, Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam told reporters, after chairing a meeting with officials of the Health and Family Welfare at the Secretariat.
The Minister also stressed that the government hospitals and the Public Health department had enough stock of the drug Tamiflu. The sale of this drug through private retail outlets had been banned.
Apart from the Chennai Central station, a special counter would be opened at the Egmore station.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2009 : 06:51:47
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Swine flu death: Family files FIR against hospitals
PTI 6 August 2009, 12:41pm IST
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PUNE: The family of Rida Shaikh, India’s first swine flu fatality, filed an FIR against the doctors of two private hospitals in Pune on Thursday. ( target=_blank>Watch )
The lawyer claimed that joint director, health, government of Maharashtra too had filed a complaint against the two private hospitals for alleged medical negligence that led to the death of Rida, a class nine student of St Anne's school here.
Asif Lampwala, the lawyer representing the bereaved family, was accompanied by Rida’s aunt Ayesha Shaikh. They filed the criminal complaint at Bund garden police station under which jurisdiction the two hospitals fall.
The deceased girl's family had alleged that Rida's blood samples were sent by Jehangir Hospital to Ruby Hall clinic for H1N1 testing when it should have referred it to designated National Institute of Virology (NIV).
Ruby clinic sent test result as negative for the virus within an hour employing rapid testing methods which resulted in delay in proper treatment giving proper treatment to the girl, the family claimed.
The samples subsequently tested positive for H1N1 infection at the second test carried out at NIV.
The lawyer said the complaint had also named Dr Sanjay Agarwal under whose supervision Rida was treated for pneumonia following a "wrong diagnosis" at Jehangir hospital.
Both Jehangir and Ruby hall clinic have denied the allegations made by Reeda's family.
Jehangir hospital had contended that the girl had shown 'non-specific' symptoms at the time of admission on July 27 and when H1N1 infection was confirmed at NIV on July 31, the hospital had alerted health authorities putting the patient on the prescribed anti-viral Tamiflu tablet.
A spokesman of Ruby Hall clinic refuted the charge that it came out with wrong test result that led to the girl's death.
Dr Pervez Grant, medical director of the hospital said the rapid test that came negative was done when the disease was possibly at a primary stage.
"We had tagged the report recommending further confirmatory testing for H1N1 at NIV," he said, adding the hospital could not be blamed for a false test report
Meanwhile, nine more persons, including three girl students of St Anne's school (where Rida Shaikh studied) have tested positive for the virus even as names of two other schools were added to the list of affected educational establishments, health officials said today.
The three schoolmates of deceased Rida Shaikh, the class nine student of St Anne's who died of the infection on August 3, belong to different classes, leading to concern that the virus may have spread in the school.
Two more schools--- St Helena and Loyola --- have reported one each positive case of the virus, according to Dr Ravindra Katti, state health department official.
The number of total positive H1N1 infections registered in the city now stands at 118. This represents the largest chunk of the 172 swine flu infections in the state, which has promulgated Epidemic Diseases Act in the Western Maharashtra districts of Pune and Satara.
More than a thousand people thronged Pune’s s government-run Naidu Hospital on Wednesday as panic deepened two days after the country's first fatality from swine flu was reported from the city.
Men, women and children with the slightest hint of cough and cold, anxious to get tested for the flu virus, began gathering from early morning and doctors and hospital staff soon found themselves swamped by a jostling crowd.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2009 : 06:53:47
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New swine flu figures due out
(UKPA) – 9 hours ago
The number of new swine flu cases in England will be revealed.
The Department of Health's weekly update is expected to provide more evidence of whether or not the virus has peaked, as last week's figures suggested, as well as the impact of the National Pandemic Flu Service.
It comes after a poll showed 90% of GPs believe infections and serious diseases could be missed because swine flu is being diagnosed over the phone. Conditions such as tonsilitis or bronchitis and even illnesses such as as meningitis may be overlooked, they said.
In a survey of 251 GPs, 87% answered "yes" when asked the question: "Does diagnosing swine flu over the phone mean other diseases may be missed?" Another 10% were unsure and just 3% said no.
The poll, for GP newspaper, followed the disclosure that Callum Meaker, 13, became seriously ill with a kidney infection when he was misdiagnosed with swine flu. So far, about half of people being diagnosed with the virus are receiving their diagnosis over the telephone by non-medical staff working from a checklist.
On Tuesday it was disclosed that Bombardier Lee Porter, from Coleraine in Northern Ireland, had become the latest Briton to die from swine flu. He died last Friday, two weeks after contracting the bug.
Natasha Newman, 16, from Highgate, north London, remains in hospital in Greece after falling ill on the island of Cephalonia. Some 150,000 people in the UK have received the anti-viral drug Tamiflu via the National Pandemic Flu Service, which was launched 10 days ago.
The service for England consists of a telephone helpline as well as a website. At last week's update, the Government suggested the number of swine flu cases "may have plateaued", with 110,000 new cases in England - representing a 10% rise on the 100,000 new cases estimated in the previous week.
The confirmed death total linked to the virus for England was 27 and 793 patients were also being treated in hospital. Of those, 81 were in intensive care - up on the 63 in intensive care in the previous week.
Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said there may be a renewed surge of swine flu in the autumn but a number of indicators suggested the situation had peaked.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2009 : 06:58:55
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Now, H1N1 counselling at Tags : health, swineflu
Posted: Thursday , Aug 06, 2009 at 0521 hrs
New Delhi:
Eight more patients from the Capital tested positive for H1N1 influenza and neighbouring Gurgaon reported three confirmed cases on Wednesday. And with a substantial rise in the number of people coming to test for possible H1N1 virus after the first swine flu death in Pune on Monday, Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital has started separate screening and counselling of patients with H1N1 influenza symptoms.
According to reports, a 22-year-old IIT-Delhi student confirmed positive for H1N1 flu late Wednesday evening.
Casualty Medical Officer S K Sharma said RML Hospital will now screen patients for all fevers, including dengue and viral influenzas. “There is a lot of confusion among people, so we decided to start a separate facility for counselling,” Dr Sharma said. “By nature, pandemics take a while before they subside and it is necessary to get the house in order before the number of cases mount.”
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2009 : 05:51:10
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Three swine flu patients in Maharashtra critical
Mumbai (PTI): Three swine flu patients were in a critical condition on Sunday and put on ventilator while all educational institutions in Pune were closed down for a week as Maharashtra grappled with rising cases of the disease.
"Two 35-year-old patients admitted to Sasoon Hospital in Pune and in Mumbai a 28-year-old man, (who were) put on ventilator at L.H. Hiranandani Hospital in Powai, are reported critical," State Health Directorate official Pradeep Awate said.
Several schools in Mumbai and neighbouring Navi Mumbai and also all education institutions in Pune and Pimpri have been closed for eight days as a precautionary measure to check the spread of the H1N1 virus, official sources said.
The decision to close the schools came after detection of few positive cases of H1N1 virus infections among school children in these localities, they said.
"Sandeep Gaikwad, a resident of Chandivili is still critical and put on ventilator but is stable. He is being treated as per doctors' advise from Kasturba Hospital," the Hiranandani Hospital Manager Manish Joshi told PTI.
Mr. Awate said screening of passengers was continuing at airport and also at the local screening centres for the general public.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2009 : 05:53:43
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suburban residential school shuts down temporarily, others on alert
M Ramya, TNN 9 August 2009, 04:59am IST
CHENNAI: One school in the city suburbs has been shut down for a few days as a precautionary measure even as state authorities are doing all they
can to tackle the spread of the H1N1 flu virus. RMK Residential School in Kavaraipettai shut down on Friday after 54 students came down with fever.
A parent of one of the students said that the school authorities had informed parents of their decision on Thursday evening and asked them to pick up the children from the hostel. "We were told to observe the children during the weekend and see if any of them needed to be taken to hospital for flu-like symptoms. The management said that the school would reopen on Tuesday," the parent said.
Other residential schools are taking steps to monitor the health condition of students in their hostels. "We got our students checked when the flu scare began. We have called the doctor again this week to get all the students checked, to see if they are exhibiting flu-like symptoms. We have arranged for regular check-ups once in 15 days. We have also informed the parents that we were likely to quarantine and send home children who show symptoms of the flu," said K R Maalathi, CEO of the residential Monarch International School.
Though school authorities in Chennai do not seem to be too worried about their children getting infected by the virus, they are warning children not to visit places outside the city and state where the incidence of the flu is high. Many schools have cancelled or rescheduled school excursions and student exchange programmes.
The management of Shree Niketan Matriculation School, for instance, has decided to reschedule the travel plans of its students. One hundred students of Classes VIII and IX were supposed to visit Shishuvan Middle School in Mumbai for a student-exchange programme in September, but the school has decided to postpone the visit. "We don't think it's the right time now; we've pushed the visit to December," said school correspondent P Vishnucharan.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2009 : 05:59:22
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Health dept confirms 46 swine flu cases in Pune
TIMESOFINDIA.COM 8 August 2009, 06:20pm IST
PUNE: With doctors at Sassoon Hospital stating that patient, admitted here on Friday, was tested positive for swine flu, the Health department now confirms that the number of cases in the city alone has touched 46, according to Times Now.
The man, a school teacher from a nearby village, was admitted to the hospital on Friday and was put on ventilator. The case was referred to the hospital by a private hospital.
A six-year-old girl suffering from swine flu was admitted to the ICU ward of a government hospital earlier today even as two more patients hit by the virus - a doctor and a pharmacist - continued to battle for their life.
The girl, who was transported from a private clinic to the hospital on Friday night, was "stable" and did not need ventilator support, hospital officials said on Saturday.
In another development, Pune cantonment board has closed ten of its schools as a precautionary measure and there were reports of more colleges having swine flu cases on their campus.
A day after Symbiosis International University closed its campus for a week, three more colleges in the city today announced a week-long closure as a precautionary measure to prevent spread of H1N1 infection on their campuses.
S P College, one of the oldest and reputed educational institute here, put up a notice today declaring temporary closure after one of the students tested positive for flu.
The other two colleges - ILS and VIT - have closed as a precaution.
The Symbiosis campus, housing a cluster of institutes offering professional courses with around 7000 students, downed its shutter yesterday after a girl pursuing a course in computer technology tested positive for swine flu.
Schools in the city also followed a similar trend and according to the official sources as many as 20 private schools in various parts, including the ten run by Pune Cantonment Board have closed down as a precautionary measure.
Some of the schools, closed earlier this month after the outbreak, have opened but the managements were in a dilemma over continuing the schedules. |
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2009 : 06:01:18
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H1N1 kills Pune teacher, Mumbai housewife
Malathy Iyer & Sharad Vyas, TNN 9 August 2009, 04:00am IST
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PUNE/MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: The highly infectious H1N1 virus claimed two lives on Saturday,with a 33-year-old Mumbai woman and a 42-year-old Pune school
teacher succumbing to it. This comes five days after the death of Pune schoolgirl Reeda Sheikh, the country’s first swine flu casualty.
Pune’s latest victim was Sanjay Tukaram Kokre who died at Sassoon Hospital around 12.30am. He had been put on a ventilator since he was admitted to the hospital’s critical care unit as a suspected H1N1 patient. He was moved to the confirmed H1N1 cases CCU on Saturday afternoon after the National Institute of Virology (NIV) confirmed that he was H1N1 positive.
Two more suspected H1N1 patients have also been admitted to Sassoon Hospital even as a doctor and a chemist continue to battle for life.
In Mumbai, flu claimed the life of Fehmida Panwalla, a housewife.
Civic officials, however, were at pains to point out that she was brought to Kasturba Hospital in a critical condition and had a history of diabetes and hypertension. It is an established medical fact that the H1N1 infection is severe in people who have an underlying condition such as diabetes or heart disease.
Asked whether the hospitals she was admitted to earlier had established if she had travelled abroad, her doctor said, ‘‘This was probably not thought about at that stage.’’
It is still not clear how Panwalla contracted H1N1. Overall, India is now seeing a spike in secondary cases of H1N1 infection — people who haven’t travelled to an infected country but may have got the virus from an infected individual.
Of the 3,624 people tested till now, 782 were found to be positive. Of these cases, 511 have been discharged. A central team has been sent to Pune to assess the situation and institute appropriate public healthcare measures.
Meanwhile on Saturday, India recorded 71 new cases of H1N1 - Pune (34), Mumbai (2), Chennai (7), Delhi (13), Amritsar (1), Faridabad (1) Bangalore (10), Manipal/Mangalore (3). Of these, almost 59 cases were of secondary infection.
Of the 13 cases in Delhi, two have a history of travelling abroad — an 11-year-old who came from Singapore and a 13-year-old who arrived from Manchester, UK.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2009 : 07:54:24
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Reeda could have spread swine flu to 80 others: Azad
IANS 9 August 2009, 05:39pm IST
NEW DELHI: Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said swine flu was very contagious and those who have fallen victim to it could have passed on the virus to many others.
He told reporters that school girl Reeda Shaikh, who died Aug 3 in a Pune hospital, had visited more than one hospital for treatment and thus could have spread the virus to about 80 others.
"One small girl went from one hospital to another, then a third hospital to get treatment and then a fourth, without awareness. In the process some 80 people were infected. This girl ... transmitted the virus in the course of seeking treatment," he said.
The 14-year-old student was India's first swine flu victim. She died Aug 3.
Azad added: "When it comes to passengers from London or the US, they are educated and have a wide social network -- it (virus) spreads fast. One person can transmit it to 100 more, they to 1,000 people, and then 10,000 to a lakh (100,000) and then to a crore (10 billion)," Azad said.
Talking about Pravin Patel, a resident of Atlanta in the US who died of Influenza A (H1NI) at the Ahmedabad civil hospital Sunday, Azad said that he was educated and must have had a wide social circle. Chances are that he could have infected others, the minister said.
Patel's wife is in critical condition after being detected with swine flu. The couple came to India last week.
Azad also updated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday over the swine flu situation.
"We are doing what has not been done in other countries (where the flu is spreading). We are screening people at airports, seaports and segregating them. Treatment is being given to all infected as well as those in contact or who travelled with the person," Azad said.
India has witnessed four swine flu deaths. Over 780 people have been infected with the virus since the first case was reported May 16.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2009 : 07:56:19
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Family fumes over Azad's remarks on Reeda, demands apology
IANS 9 August 2009, 05:00pm IST
PUNE: Upset with the remarks of union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the family of 14-year-old Reeda Shaikh, India's first swine flu fatality, has demanded that he either apologise or resign for saying that Reeda could have spread the disease to 80 others while changing hospitals during treatment. ( Watch )
"We want an apology from the government. He (Azad) has hurt a mother... he has blamed our child, Reeda for having infected 80 others by going to four hospitals. He needs to get his facts right," Reeda's emotional mother told reporters here Sunday.
Referring to Reeda, Azad had said earlier, "One small girl went from one hospital to another, then the third and then a fourth hospital to get treatment, and without awareness which is crucial. In the process some 80 people were infected."
"This little girl who has no social contacts nor does she go to parties transmitted the virus in the course of seeking treatment," he told reporters Sunday.
Infuriated by the statement, Reeda's aunt Ayesha Shaikh said: "Our child sacrificed her life for the nation. Because of her death, so many people went for the swine flu test and have tested positive. No one wants another Reeda in their family. Everyone wants their child safe."
"We want an apology or resignation from Azad otherwise we will go to the prime minister and seek his resignation," she added.
The family also accused the Maharashtra health department for delaying an enquiry into the death.
"We have filed the case but the police is helpless. We know that the police commissioner has written to the health minister asking about the health committee that was to be set up to probe the incident. But so far nothing has been done.
"There is some nexus involved here - between the Jehangir hospital (where Reeda died Aug 3), Ruby Hall (the lab where she was tested earlier) and the health ministry officials," the family alleged.
Slamming union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal's statement that the effect of swine flu in the country is "minimal" and that the situation is under control, Ayesha further said: "If he says that the effect of the virus is still minimal, then it will be minimal even if a 100,000 people die of swine flu."
Reeda Shaikh's family has filed a case of criminal negligence against the private Jehangir Hospital where she was admitted and the Ruby Hall Clinic that conducted a test on her. |
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2009 : 07:58:45
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PM tells Azad: Form doctors' panel on swine flu
IANS 9 August 2009, 03:57pm IST
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday told health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to form a team of doctors to provide "correct information" to the people regarding swine flu that has claimed four lives in India. ( Watch )
"The prime minister has asked the health minister to set up a panel of doctors that will give correct information to the public on swine flu," an official in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.
Manmohan Singh said the panel should also provide proper information to the media so that there are no misconceptions.
The official said the minister telephoned the prime minister Sunday morning to update him about the steps being taken to tackle the virus.
"The health minister assured the prime minister that there is sufficient stock of Tamiflu and people detected with the virus have been quarantined," the official said.
"The prime minister has also asked the health minister that he should be informed immediately if there is any change in the situation," he said.
According to the official, the prime minister had discussed with Azad the swine flu situation at Friday's cabinet meeting.
The prime minister had earlier instructed that there be no shortage of Tamiflu.
Azad has also been told to ensure that the union health secretary meets all state health secretaries and keep the cabinet secretary updated.
A school teacher from a village near Pune and a non-resident Indian (NRI) man who had flown from the US to Ahmedabad died of swine flu Sunday.
These follow the deaths of a woman in Mumbai Saturday and of a 14-year-old girl in Pune on Aug 3.
India has reported over 780 cases, of which nearly 500 patients have been cured. The most badly hit states are Delhi and Maharashtra. |
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2009 : 08:00:35
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Swine flu: Maharashtra likely to allow private hospitals' treatment
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra Government is considering a proposal to allow private hospitals fulfilling government guidelines to treat swine flu cases, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said here on Sunday.
"A decision on the issue would be taken in two days after a meeting with private hospital managements," Mr. Chavan told reporters after a five-hour-long high-level meeting convened by him on the swine flu situation in the State, which has seen three of the four H1N1 deaths in the country.
"Those private hospitals who are willing to set up isolated wards and follow Government of India's guidelines would be considered," the Chief Minister said, adding that a final decision would be announced in two days.
There are, however, no restrictions on private doctors examining suspected cases, Mr. Chavan said.
A doctor should send suspected cases to screening centres which would take throat swab to get them tested for swine flu, he said.
Mr. Chavan asked people to restrict movement at public places. He, however, announced that it would be up to school managements to decide on closing the school in view of the swine flu.
A meeting of all Ganesh mandals and Dahihandi mandals would be convened on Monday to discuss ways of minimising spread of swine flu, Mr. Chavan said.
Lakhs of people throng the streets during Ganeshotsav and Dahihandi celebrations.
He also said the government's recruitment drive of police constables would be postponed in view of the swine flu situation.
Senior ministers, Mumbai Mayor Shubha Raul and senior Health Department officials attended the meeting held at the Chief Minister's official residence Varsha in south Mumbai.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2009 : 08:03:00
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Suspect H1N1 case reported in Chennai
CHENNAI: A four-year-old boy from Velachery admitted to a private city hospital for kidney failue has been suspected of harbouring the A(H1N1) virus.
He has been put on ventilator support and is said to be critical.
The child had been ill for at least a week, according to sources. The child who was prone to asthma attacks had severe diahorrhea, fever and breathing difficulties and had been admitted to Sooriya hospital last week. However, despite treatment, his condition continued to worsen and his kidneys failed. That is when the child was shifted to Mehta hospital. He was put on ventilator support and a gastric sample taken to test for Swine Flu. The sample tested positive.
However, Director of Public Health S.Elango said the sample was not a conventional nose or throat swab that is used to confirm Swine Flu. Therefore another sample would have to be tested before confirming whether the child is suffering from Swine Flu or not.
While the child has no history of recent travel outside the country, the father had been to Singapore recently. 'We suspect the father is the carrier, without being affected,' Dr. Elango said.
Meanwhile public health authorities went to the apartment complex where the family was staying and conducted an awareness programme for other residents. They were told about signs and symptoms and asked to test themselves in case they had any of them. They were also told there was no reason to panic.
The child's family, including the older son who seems to show some of the symptoms, have been tested. Results are awaited.The school where the child went to had incidentally provided an awareness programme all students last week. They had told students to watch out for warning signs, according to the neighbours.
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'Swine flu more dangerous than bird flu'
