Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 11: The state government has asked all the medical institutions in the state to be vigilant against swine flu, H1N1 virus, after a middle-aged man tested positive.
‘‘We have asked all district medical officers and medical colleges to take precautionary measures to counter the seasonal disease. Even though it would not be an outbreak-like situation, we have directed them to be alert,’’ said Public Health director Kailash Das Sunday.
Das, however, urged people not to panic as it would not be an epidemic-like situation like the previous years.
“The flu declared as the seasonal influenza by the World Health Organisation (WHO) is curable,” Das said adding, “However, considering its seriousness all district headquarters hospitals and medical colleges have been asked to take precautionary measures.”
“All the CDMOs have been advised to remain alert. Health Secretary has also reviewed the situation at a meeting with the concerned officials in this regard Sunday,” said Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak to Orissa Post.
Nayak said, “Isolation wards are already in place to take on the flu. The medicine for flu, indented by the government from outside the state, has reached. If such cases are detected in future, the government will supply medicine to the victims.” “Expert teams will be formed to monitor the situation and curb spread of the virus,” He said.
A middle-aged man was tested positive Saturday while he was undergoing treatment at a private hospital here. This is the first swine flu case of the year. His blood samples, which were sent to the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) here, confirmed the presence of the virus, said Das.
The man had gone to Uttar Pradesh and then to Delhi before returning to Orissa January 6. Since Delhi and Gurgaon are affected by the H1N1 outbreak, the man is believed to have contracted the virus from a carrier. “The condition of the affected person is normal and he is under observation,” the Minister said.
