EMN
KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 18
Following the report of a confirmed case of H1N1 in Nagaland, the state health department has assured that it is fully prepared for tackling H1N1 (swine flu). According to an official bulletin, state nodal officer for Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), Dr. Tiasunup Pongener has today disclosed that the department has already placed orders for 1000 tablets of Oseltamivir and 100 bottles of Susp Oseltamivir from the Central government to counter H1N1 flu. The consignment is expected to reach Nagaland by this evening, he informed.
The IDSP which has district surveillance units in all the 11 districts and a state unit in Kohima are all working 24 hours for the last two weeks, after information regarding H1N1 (flu) has been received, he said.
Confirming the first case of H1N1 flu detected in Nagaland, Dr. Tiasunup disclosed that the condition of the patient has improved and there are no signs of fever till this morning, the patient would be discharged in a couple of days after giving proper counseling, he added. “If any new cases are detected in any district, the IDSP is ready to handle the situation”, he further assured.
The official also said that the department is in consultation with Delhi and if a green signal is given then a Medical Surveillance Unit would be set up in the Dimapur airport within a day or two for screening passengers entering the state from other metro cities.
On vaccination of health workers, he informed that most of the health workers have been vaccinated in the year 2010. As for the new batch of health workers who are yet to be vaccinated, the department is in consultation with the central government to do the needful.
He further asked the public not to panic, assuring that the medical department is ready and capable of handling the situation. He advised people not to go for self-medication if one has symptoms of H1N1 flu, but to report to the nearest medical centre where registered trained doctors are available for handling the situation.
