Union health ministry issues advisory to states on H1N1

PUNE: The union health ministry has advised states to ensure that they have the required and adequate quantities of stock of drug Oseltamivir, Viral Diagnostic Kits, Viral Transport Media, Personal Protective Equipment and N-95 masks, at different levels in the health care system to tackle H1N1.
The press statement issued by the ministry says that state governments have also been requested to ensure that sufficient isolation facilities are available and functional, well-equipped to manage critical respiratory emergencies.
The ministry has also asked for a status report from the states on their preparedness in terms of PPE, N95 masks, testing kits, medicines, vaccines etc., by 10th of this month. The ministry has asked the states to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures to prevent morbidity/mortality due to this Virus.
The advisory notes that- ‘While most of Influenza A H1N1 cases will be mild, persons with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart diseases, cancer and other immuno-compromized conditions, adults more than 65 years of age, children under 5 years of age and pregnant women are at higher risk for acquiring severe illness. Mortality due to Influenza A H1N1 among the said high risk groups can be prevented by early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
It further requests the state governments to ensure adequate epidemiological surveillance to immediately detect clustering of influenza like illnesses along with requisite laboratory preparedness to test the clinical samples. Training and re-training workshops can be held for doctors to reiterate guidelines on patient categorization, clinical treatment and ventilatory management protocols.