In what has come as a relief to health officials, no fresh cases of H1N1 or swine flu have been reported from Jawahar Navodaya school in Periya in Kasargode district, a school from where five students were infected with the virus.
Though some reports suggested that two more students have tested positive for H1N1, District Medical Officer Ramdas AV told TNM that they are suspected cases and not confirmed ones. "We hadn’t sent any fresh samples for examination as it is a time-consuming process which would affect timely medical care. The seven cases mentioned in news reports could be suspected ones,” he said.
The five students are being provided treatment at the school campus itself. “As of now there is no need for any of the children to be shifted to a hospital. The facility for their treatment has been arranged at the school campus itself. They are under observation and it is ensured that they are given proper rest. A team of doctors including physicians are monitoring them," he added.
The health department has taken precautionary measures in the district in general to prevent the transmission of the illness. A meeting of officials including the District Collector and the DMO was called on Monday morning to review the situation.
“The situation is almost under control. From February 20 till Sunday, 71 cases were reported - 37 boys and 34 girls who have fever and cold. But on Monday no fresh case has been reported. The students are under observation,” said Dr D Sajith Babu, District Collector, Kasargode.
The Collector also said that they have ensured that there is adequate stock of medicines, medical and para medical staff.
H1N1 nodal officer for the state Dr Amar Fettle is also working to help the students. “In addition, there is a chest physician also present with the students. The students will be on surveillance for seven more days,’ the Collector added.
The district health authorities have sent samples to the Institute of Virology, Mangalore, after the students were affected with fever and cold simultaneously . Among the samples sent, five students have been confirmed to be affected with H1N1. The authorities, however, have started treatment for the other students as well. According to them sending big number of samples to a lab and awaiting results would hamper efforts to give timely treatment.
Meanwhile Health Minister KK Shylaja said that a special medical team has been sent to the district. “A camp has been functioning at the school hostel. There will be round the clock surveillance by the medical team at the camp. The camp will continue till the students got cured,” a statement from the Minister’s office said.