Revised guidelines for flu symptoms
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Revised guidelines for flu symptoms
The directorate general of health services, ministry of health and family welfare, Union government has issued revised guidelines for
testing of persons with flu like symptoms reporting at hospitals notified for influenza H1N1. Under the fresh guidelines, any person with flu like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, cold, running nose etc., should go to a designated government facility for giving his/her sample for testing of H1N1 virus. After clinical assessment, the designated medical officer would decide on the need of testing. Expect for cases that are severe, the patient would be allowed to go home as this was not allowed under the existing guidelines. The sample of the suspect case would be collected and sent to notified laboratory (SGPGIMS Lucknow) for testing. If tested positive for H1N1 and in case the symptoms are mild, the patient would be informed and given the option of admission into the hospital or isolation and treatment in his/her home. Nodal officer and additional CMO Dr VK Srivastava told TOI that in case a patient opts for home isolation and treatment, the patient would be offered with a set of guidelines or safety measures to be promptly adhered by the entire household of the patient. Dr Srivastava added that the patient would have to provide full contact details of his entire household and his social contacts would be provided with the preventive treatment. Dr Srivastava, however, added that decision of the doctor of notified hospital about admitting the patient would be final and in case the test is negative, the patient will be informed accordingly. He admitted that people with common problems like cold and fever are also coming to hospitals and insisting on doctors to conduct tests through kits despite the fact that the health department has issued a set of guidelines in this regard. Meanwhile, the health department on Thursday collected four throat swab samples for the swine flu test.
INFLUENZA A (HIN1)
l What is influenza-A(H1N1)?
Influenza A (H1N1), earlier know as swine flu, is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. First detected in Mexico in April, 2009, it has spread to many countries. Swine flu is basically a misnomer. This was originally referred to as "swine flu" because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to those found in pigs in North America. Further on, it has been found that this new virus has gene segments from the swine, avian and human flu virus genes. The scientists calls this a 'quadruple reassortanf" virus and hence this new (novel) virus is christened "influenza-A (H1N1) virus." l Influenza-A(H1N1) outbreak It started among humans in Mexico and has spread to Argentina, Australia. Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal. Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UK and USA. * Are there human/infections with influenza A (H1N1) in India? One passenger who travelled to India from USA has tested positive for Influenza A H1N1. There is no further spread from him. Do not panic! * Is it safe to take pork items? Pigs have nothing to do with this disease. Pork products are absolutely safe if properly cooked. There is no need to cull pigs. Do not panic if some pigs die in the community due to some natural disease.
* Is this flu virus contagious? Influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and spreads from human to human.
* What are the signs and symptoms of influenza-A (HIM) in people? The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhoea and vomiting associated with influenza A (H1N1).
* How does influenza A (H1N1) spread ? Flu virus is spread mainly from person to person through droplets created while coughing or sneezing by a person infected with the influenza-A (HIN1).
* How can someone with the flu infect someone else? Infected person may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven or more days after becoming sick.
* How to keep away from getting the flu? First and most important: Follow simple steps as cough etiquettes (covering mouth and nose with handkerchief or tissue paper while coughing), stay at least an arm's length from persons coughing or sneezing, avoid gathering and wash your hands frequently. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, he physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food. * Are there medicines to treat this flu? Yes. Necessary medicines in sufficient quantity are available. The government has in the designated hospitals stored medicines if required. It is strongly advisable not to take medicines of your own, as it will lower your immunity.
* What can I do to protect myself from getting sick ?
(a) Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
(b) Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
(c) Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
(d) Try to avoid close contact with people having respiratory illness.
(e) If one gets sick with influenza, one must stay at home, away from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. However, if one is having any respiratory distress, one should report to a nearby hospital.
* What steps health department taking to prevent outbreak of this flu in state? (I) The strategy is basically to detect early cases among the passengers coming from the affected countries either by air, road or ship.
(2) The government has launched a massive mass media campaign to inform and educate people on dos and don'ts.
(3) Sharing information with public through media. *APPEAL----- People who have travelled from the affected countries in the past ten days and show symptoms of influenza A (H1N1) like fever, cough, sore throat and difficulty in breathing should immediately contact the telephone numbers given below or the nearby Government Hospital. IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS: Epidemic Cell -- 9005062023, Chief Medical officer- 9005062000, Additional CMO - 9005062001. *CASE DEFINITION OF H1N1 INFLUENZA - A suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with acute febrile respiratory illness (fever = 380 C) with onset. Within a week of close contact with a person who is a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, or within 7 days of travel to areas where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) cases, or resides in a community where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza cases. Note --- A probable case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness who:
* is positive for influenza A, but unsubtypable for H1 and H3 by influenza RT-PCR or reagents used to detect seasonal influenza virus infection, or
* is positive for influenza A by an influenza rapid test or an influenza immunofluorescence assay (IFA) plus meets criteria for a suspected case, or individual with a clinically compatible illness who died of an unexplained acute respiratory illness who is considered to be epidemiologically linked to a probable or confirmed case. A confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness with laboratory confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection at WHO approved laboratories by one or more of the following tests. Real Time PCR Viral culture four-fold rise in swine influenza A (H1N1) virus specific neutralising antibodies.
*GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOLS/COLLEGES/INSTITUTIONS ON INFLUENZA A/H1N1: Issued By health department- If there are cases of Influenza A\H1N1 virus among students and staff in certain schools, there has been considerable speculation over the need for closure of schools to control the outbreak. This matter has been considered by the Joint Monitoring Group in the ministry of health and family welfare. All schools and colleges are advised to observe the following guidelines for managing cases of infection of Influenza A H1N1. (1} Any student or staff member showing flu like symptoms such as fever, cough, running nose and difficulty in breathing should be allowed to stay at home for a period of 7-10 days.
(2) Educational institutions should not insist on production of medical certificate by the student/staff.
(3) Educational institutions should monitor the health status of such students/staff who might have come in contact with a suspected case of Influenza A H1N1 to see whether they develop flu like-symptom. In case they do so, they should be allowed to stay home.
(4) In case of students staying in hostels, the educational institutions would not only monitor the health status of the students, but also that of care providers. It has to be ensured that care providers wear face mask and wash hands regularly. It might not be advisable to send the boarders back to home, as it would spread infection further.
(5)Educational institutions are further encouraged to report such cases to local health officers for further monitoring. (6) Given the current magnitude of the spread of H1N1 infection and the fact that the current virus is fairly mild, closure of educational institutions on account of any student/staff member falling ill with flu like symptoms is not recommended.
(7) In the first place, the schools should discourage the excursions of the students to the effected countries.
(8) In case if the students had proceeded to affected countries on unavoidable tours, then on their return. If some students show flu like symptoms of fever, cough, body ache, running nose, difficulty breathing etc. They should be advised to abstain from attending school and be allowed to stay at home for a period of 7-10 days.
For more about Swine Flu (H1N1) - Complete Guide : கிளிக் கியர் ? CLICK HERE Swine Flu Alert
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For more about Swine Flu (H1N1) - Complete Guide : கிளிக் கியர் ? CLICK HERE Swine Flu Alert
