PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO CONTROL SWINE FLU VIRUS

Preventive measures to control swine flu virus

Government of India has taken a series of preventive measures to control swine flu virus. A comprehensive plan including guidelines and standard operating procedures has been put in place.







Entry screening of passengers is continuing at 22 international airports and five international checkpoints. 28 Thermal Scanners have been installed at major international airports. Those found to be suspected of H1N1 were isolated and treated. All their contacts were traced and put on chemoprophylaxis to prevent further spread.







Community surveillance to detect clusters of influenza like illness is being done through Integrated Disease Surveillance Project. Laboratory network has been strengthened and States allocated to different laboratories. There are 42 laboratories (24 in Government Sector and 18 in Private Sector) testing the clinical samples. Central teams were deputed to the states of Punjab, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala to contain the disease.







Government of India procured 40 million capsules and 4 lakh bottles of Oseltamivir, the drug to treat H1N1 Flu. 18 million have been given to the States/UTs. The drug is also used for chemoprophylaxis to prevent further spread. Adequate stock of personal protective equipments has been kept.







Three Indian manufacturers of Vaccine are being supported to manufacture H1N1 vaccine. Four million doses are being imported at vaccinate the high risk group. Training of district level teams is supported by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. IMA has been provided funds to train private practitioners.







All states have been requested to gear up the state machinery, open large number of screening centres and strengthen isolation facilities at district level.







A task force in the I&B Ministry is implementing the media plan. Travel advisory, do’s and don’s and other pertinent information on non pharmaceuticals interventions to prevent the spread has been widely published in print media and shown in visual media on regular basis. This has been translated to 14 languages and given to the states. Information is also provided on the website: http://mohfw-h1n1.nic.in.







This information was given by Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question raised in Rajya Sabha today



SOURCE;PIB