Srinagar: Nine persons were tested positive for H1N1 in Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura on Thursday, an official said here.
A spokesperson of SKIMS said the number of infected persons have climbed to 181 since October, 2014 in Kashmir Valley. However, the spokesperson said, no death was reported in last 24 hours.
The official said 50 frontline health workers including doctors and paramedics were vaccinated today at the hospital in addition to 100 workers already vaccinated.
Also 195 patients were seen today up to 2.00 P.M and 9 fresh samples were taken .Eleven patients are admitted in isolation ward and out of which one is on ventilator, the spokesperson said.
The SKIMS would likely receive reagents/chemicals for 500 patients from NCDC New Delhi, arranged by States Governor, NN Vohra, the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today said that the recent H1N1 outbreak in the valley has put patients in hospitals at risk of infection because healthcare workers are not vaccinated.
President DAK and H1N1 expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan said that healthcare workers which include doctors, nurses, paramedics and lab staff are forced to handle H1N1 patients and their samples without being vaccinated.
Vaccination is the only tool to prevent contraction and spread of H1N1 virus.
It is mandatory on health authorities to vaccinate healthcare workers who are at increased risk of contracting flu and further transmitting it to patients.
Vaccination will protect healthcare workers themselves and act as a barrier against spread of infection and maintain healthcare delivery during outbreak.
It is obligatory on health authorities to immunize healthcare workers to prevent disruption of medicare system.
Vaccination of healthcare workers will build trust in patients who will feel safe at the hands of protected caregivers during outbreak.
Health authorities are ethically bound to vaccinate healthcare workers to promote patient safety.
It is moral imperative for health authorities to vaccinate healthcare workers on priority so that they do not endanger human lives.
Healthcare workers should have been vaccinated soon after flu vaccines became available ideally by October but as long as viruses are circulating in the community it is not too late to get vaccinated.
It is highly irresponsible of health officials who have failed to vaccinate healthcare workers thus risking patients.