In response to the health advisory issued by the Health Department, the district SAS Nagar is actively preparing for the management of respiratory diseases, particularly Swine Flu, announced Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain today.
Providing further insights, she mentioned that a comprehensive review meeting took place to evaluate the level of preparedness and to issue necessary guidelines. Currently, only one case of Swine Flu (H1N1) has been reported, involving an elderly male in the Derabassi Sub Division. The patient has been discharged from the health facility after being deemed stable.
Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain also highlighted that the district has established 21 flu corners across government and private health facilities. Additionally, 34 isolation beds are available in government hospitals, along with 45 in private hospitals, making a total of 79 beds. Furthermore, the district boasts 21 ICU beds at District Hospital Mohali and an additional 75 in private hospitals. Adequate logistics for H1N1 patients, including Tab Tamiflu, Syrup Fluvir, PPE Kits, VTM Bottles, Triple-Layer Masks, N-95 Masks, and oxygen cylinders with concentrators, are readily available.Civil Surgeon Dr. Mahesh Kumar emphasized that Influenza a H1N1/H3N2 is a notified disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act in Punjab. He stressed the importance of categorizing all patients with symptoms of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) reporting to medical institutions. If they test negative for COVID but exhibit symptoms, testing for Swine Flu (H1N1) should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis.
