Scared govt doctors seek swine flu cover

AURANGABAD: The state-run hospital in Aurangabad is grappling with a shortage of face masks and gloves used by doctors and paramedics while treating swine flu patients and have urged the administration to provide them with the vaccine.
The highly contagious influenza (H1N1) claimed one life last week, while six other patients are undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).The sudden death of a patient due to swine flu has caused panic in the city.
Members of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) and Maharashtra Medical Teachers' Association (MMTA) of Aurangabad will be meeting the hospital administration on Tuesday seeking compulsory vaccination and distribution of protective N95 respirator masks for all the healthcare providers.
Sources said the hospital does not have a supply of swine flu vaccines for the doctors and paramedical staff. There is also a shortage of protective equipment like hand gloves and masks that is putting the lives of doctors and other staff at risk.
MARD members said that even the doctors dealing with swine flu patients have not been given vaccination. "Last year too when a large number of H1N1 cases were reported in the city, we were not given any vaccination. We were just provided with the personal protective equipment like hand gloves and mask," a senior doctor said.
"This year, we will be urging the GMCH dean to make vaccines available for the doctors who are likely to catch infection while treating the H1N1 patients. Over 100 doctors, mostly from the medicine department, get exposed to patients in OPDs," said MMTA Aurangabad president Bharat Sonawane.
GMCH MARD president Rushikesh Chevale said that they had decided to make representations to the hospital management on Tuesday seeking compulsory vaccination and distribution of protective respirator masks for all the healthcare providers working in the hospital.
Currently, the trivalent vaccine available in the market is said to be effective against three strains of flu virus responsible for causing both H1N1 and the seasonal flu (H3N2 strain).
S H Talib, professor Emirates at GMCH, said that the 2013 seasonal influenza vaccine includes protection against swine flu. The vaccine contains the 2009 Pandemic (H1N1) Influenza strain plus two other strains predicted to be most commonly occurring. "People who want to protect themselves against the 3 strains should get the 2013 seasonal influenza vaccine," he said.
Talib, a former head of medicine department at GMCH, said that people with a high risk category of catching the infection should get the immunization. These include persons with low immunity, whether due to any disease or treatment (liver transplants, kidney transplant, etc.), pregnancy, patients taking drugs for active asthma, staff working in laboratories testing swab samples and doctors getting directly exposed to swine flu patients.
The hospital administration, however, took a different view regarding vaccination though it accepted the shortage of other protective gear. "There is no need to panic as the situation is under control. Moreover, the virus changes every year hence the vaccines are of not much use. We have ordered for the masks and will get enough stock soon," said GMCH dean Chhaya Diwan.
The condition of six patients undergoing treatment for H1N1 is stable and they are not on ventilator, she added.
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An infection caused by one of the multiple types of influenza viruses, particularly the new strain of virus H1N1 influenza is referred to as swine flu or swine influenza.
BOX: SYMPTOMS
Cough, fever, sore throat, mild respiratory illness that causes nasal congestion without a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, headache
BOX: MODE OF TRANSMISSION
Coughing, close contact with infected person, touching or handling something contaminated with flu viruses
BOX: PEOPLE AT RISK
People suffering from long-term lung, heart, kidney or liver diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions, impaired or low immunity and asthma. Pregnant women and children are at risk
BOX: PRECAUTIONS
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective
Wash your hands at regular intervals with disinfectants
Keep surfaces like doorknobs, tables clean
Don't touch your mouth, nose, eyes after touching strangers and unknown surfaces
Don't touch yourself or others after sneezing or coughing. First, wash your hands