H1N1 cases up in Tamil Nadu, every 12th sample tested turns positive

CHENNAI: The number of H1N1 cases in Tamil Nadu has nearly doubled in the past week, and with the toll touching 10 since September, taking the fatalities in 2018 to 15, the health department issued treatment advisories to hospitals on Thursday.


With day temperatures dipping in most parts of the state, 60 cases of H1NI were being reported daily in the past few days, against 30 cases the previous week, and eight of every 100 samples tested were turning out to be positive, officials said. Most of them were in Chennai, Kancheepuram and surrounding areas, but cases were now being reported in isolated pockets across the state. Meanwhile, the number of dengue cases has come down.

The latest H1N1 fatality was K Nandakumar, 7, of Kaniyampoondi near Avinashi. The class II student died on Tuesday night at the Avinashi government hospital. Laboratory tests later confirmed he had H1N1. The Tirupur government hospital has admitted more than 120 people with fever. A special fever ward was established to accommodate them. The state health department has advised government and private hospitals to isolate people coming in with fever and symptoms of flu.

Health dept issues advisory to curb spread of H1N1 & dengue infection

Antenatal check-ups for pregnant women should be done only after 11am in government hospitals after most fever cases have been attended to.

“There is no panic yet. Most deaths have been among people with co-morbid conditions such as heart disease, lung dysfunction or kidney failure,” said director of public health Dr K Kolandaswamy. “Our advisories are to ensure there is no cross infection within the hospital. Besides doctors, nurses and health staff, we are asking patients and attenders to use anti-microbial hand scrubs while they are leaving hospitals,” he said.

The patients will then be segregated into A, B and C categories. People in the first category — those with fever, cough and cold — will be advised self-isolation and rest at home with intake of fluids. Those in the second — with high fever, body ache, running nose, sore throat and vomiting — will be given oseltamivir tablets and advised care at home. Patients in the first two categories will be monitored by doctors. Test for category A is not required and prescribed only if necessary in B. Patients in Category C — with breathlessness along with high fever, irritability and other symptoms — must be treated at the hospital.

The state has also advised all healthcare workers to get themselves vaccinated and use N95 masks. Health secretary J Radhakrishnan said the state had adequate stock of protective gear and medicines for the viral disease. School and educational institutions have been advised to ask students with fever and symptoms of flu to skip school until the fever subsided.

Meanwhile, DMK president M K Stalin has critised the government for failing to curb the spread of H1N1. Despite many deaths and scores of others reporting at hospitals in serious condition, the government hardly seems to be taking any preventive steps, he said in a statement. “On a daily basis children or adults are dying due to dengue or H1N1. In the last year, 158 persons died due to dengue. Despite this, the government has failed to take any preventing steps,” said Stalin. He said he had information that that GHs were not treating patients with dengue or H1N1. “There are no proper medicines in these hospitals,” he claimed.