School prayers cancelled in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to reduce H1N1 spread

With swine flu killing seven persons in Orissa in 11 days this month and the H1N1 virus spreading beyond Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the state Government today instructed all district collectors to restrict gatherings. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting at the Secretariat. “We have asked district collectors to keep a watch on the swine flu situation and restrict gatherings,” Health and Family Welfare Minister Prasanna Acharya told reporters.

While six of the deaths occurred in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, one took place in Bargarh district. “The Health Department has decided to keep hospitals ready at the district level to deal with swine flu patients,” the Minister said. He said there was stock of about three lakh tamiflu tablets and adequate vaccine for service providers at health centres and private hospitals.

The treatment for the viral infection was being carried out according to the Central Government’s guidelines, he said. The State Government today maintained that swine flu is fully curable and there is no cause for panic. Timely medication in consultation with doctors and clean environment are necessary to keep the disease from spreading. As the death rate of disease is 1 to 4 per cent, it can be prevented through awareness campaign and alertness.

Adequate stocks of medicine and masks have been rushed to all blocks in the State and guidelines on treatment have been sent to all doctors. The Centre has been requested to provide more vaccine and medicine to the State. There will be no prayer meetings in schools for some time now.

To prevent the disease from spreading in the schools, students have been advised to avoid mass gatherings.

Besides, teachers have been asked to make students aware of the disease and how to prevent it. The Chief Minister directed the Health Department officials to take immediate steps to ensure that the disease did not spread among students in anganwadis, sevashrams and special schools for the physically challenged students.

Source: The New Indian Express