Rajasthan gears up to curb the spread of a possible swine flu outbreak

Even as we continue to struggle with COVID-19, the deadly swine flu’s outbreak in 2014-15 is a memory that cannot be forgotten. With the early signs of a possible swine flu resurgence in India and Rajasthan, the health department of the state has sprung to action and issued guidelines for its prevention, control, and treatment. Even though the cases of swine flu in Jaipur are not as alarming, the authorities have still begun activities to control its spread and issue guidelines.

Apart from separate OPDs in district hospitals, isolation wards and ICUs will also be made available for infected patients. Medical staff with pulse oximeter will be deployed to check the oxygen saturation of the patients with influenza-like illness including temperature, cough and cold.

In a bid to curb the flu’s spread, provision to treat patients with suspected swine flu at isolated OPDs at separate place have also been made. Notably, separate isolation wards will be created at district hospitals, sub-district hospitals and satellite hospitals, with the facilities to treat both swine flu and COVID-19 patients.

Just in in a month, the district has reported a high amount of cases. With an aim to halt it's spread, the doctors have started rapid testing of the city residents. Authorities recently tested 217 samples. Out of which, a total of 35 people have been tested positive for the flu, taking the infection rate to 16.1%.

The health department has instructed medical colleges and hospitals to deploy nodal officers for the monitoring of the illness. Leaving no stone unturned in their attempt to curb yet another swine flu outbreak, the health ministry has also instructed authorities to ensure free diagnostic facilities for swine flu in the hospital.