After dengue, health dept prepares for swine flu

JAIPUR: Even as dengue cases still pose a problem in the state, the health department is preparing to tackle on another highly contagious respiratory disease - swine flu.
Haunted by last year's incidents in the spurt of swine flu, the health department has started preparations well in advance. "We cannot wait for swine flu to victimize people in the city. So we have started preparation before it strikes the state," Dr B R Meena, director (health), state health department, said.
Last year, the state started reporting swine flu cases in December, which continued to victimize more than 800 people at least till March.
Dr Meena said they have trained the laboratory staff in various hospitals of the state and now they are planning to train doctors on treatment of swine flu which is highly contagious.
Till March 2013, Rajasthan was one among the states with highest swine flu cases. Worried over deaths due to swine flu at that time, the medical health and family welfare department had sought guidance of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to prevent its spread in the state.
A department official said as swine flu cases started coming in during December last year, catching the health off guard and almost getting out of control, the department had to publicize the ways of prevention against the disease by making mass awareness campaigns.
The official said they are now preparing to provide treatment in early stages by screening people for swine flu so that the mortality rate remains low.
"We have to decided the date for doctors' training on swine flu treatment and will start it soon," the official added.