126 cases detected positive for swine flu in Chandigarh till date
Chandigarh: The Home-cum-Health Secretary, Mr. Ram Niwas today convened a meeting with the experts and reviewed the prevailing situation of swine flu cases in Chandigarh. Till date 126 cases have been detected positive for swine flu and all the cases have been treated and cured fully. No death due to Swine flu belonging to Chandigarh has been reported in city so far. All the six deaths occurred due to swine flu have been reported from outside Chandigarh.
The deaths so far reported in PGIMER were from private hospitals either admitted or referred by them at the critical stage. It was further informed that majority of the deaths were associated with other underlying complications.
The Secretary Health reiterated that schools principals will be held responsible for allowing students showing flu like illness to attend the classes. He was of the opinion that the parents should also ensure that any student down with influenza like illness is not sent to schools for attending classes. The principal shall not demand any certificate for the said illness from those students who do not attend the classes. It is the prime responsibility of the principals to ensure effective implementation of guidelines issued by the Health and Education Department.
It was also decided in the meeting that coaching institutes shall also not be spared if they continue to allow the student with flu like illness to attend such classes. Special raids will be conducted at random intervals by the officers of Health and Education Department to ensure that all the coaching institutes are strictly adhering to guidelines of Health Department.
The Secretary Health further emphasized that during carnival school students shall not participate in activities and they have been kept away for participation keeping in view the swine flu cases detected in different schools.
As carnival, fairs and festivals are being organized in Chandigarh, advisories have been put up at the entry points advising the people not to enter the festival and carnival if they are down with flu like illness.
The Secretary Health also emphasized that the water taps, door handles and knobs of the houses and offices are another source of infection which should be frequently cleaned regularly with soaps and detergents. Similarly, the currency notes could be another source of infection therefore caution should be used while handling the currency.
He also desired that health raids should be conducted in canteens and other eating places in the city for ensuring that the cooks and the other staff deployed in the canteens use hand gloves and other hand hygiene practice, while preparing or serving the food items. He was also of the view that parents should play an active role in resisting the children for consuming junk food as it might be responsible for reducing the immunity towards various infections
including flu like illness.
