Mild flu? Govt prescribes home stay for 7-10 days
Kounteya Sinha | TNN
New Delhi : Those showing mild symptoms of H1N1 Influenza need not get admitted to a hospital or even get tested for infection. They should simply stay at home for 7-10 days without stepping out or meeting anyone. Students should avoid going to class for a week, for which they don't even have to produce a medical certificate to the school. Schools, on the other hand, have been asked to stay open in case a student tests positive for H1N1.
They will, however, have to inform the health authorities if a large number of students complain of flu-like symptoms so that contact tracing can be conducted. These are some of the few recommendations finalized by the Union government on Tuesday during the crucial meeting of the health ministry's joint monitoring group. On Wednesday, the ministry will dispatch these national guidelines to all states informing them that India is gradually switching over to admitting only severe patients showing flu-like symptoms and complaining of lower respiratory disease.
Screening at airports will also be stopped in the near future and all suspected patients would no more be tested. Tamiflu will also be used judiciously and administered only to those with serious H1N1 influenza like symptoms.
With the number of positive H1N1 cases in India inching towards the 500-mark (475 positive cases at present), the country is fast bracing with the reality that the virus has got entrenched in the community and can no more be controlled. “In a directive to be sent on Wednesday, the Centre will ask states to ensure that schools don't shut down because of H1N1 infection among its students. Students will be informed to stay at home if they feel unwell. They will, however, not have to produce medical certificates to prove they are H1N1 infected or not. Schools will be told not to press for such medical certificates,” officials who were part of the crucial meeting said. Delhi has already reported 30 cases of H1N1 infection among school students while Pune has reported around 45 cases among students. |