SRINAGAR: Thirty three more persons were found positive with H1N1 influenza Wednesday shooting the number of officially confirmed cases to beyond 200.
A SKIMS spokesperson said that 19 patients tested positive for H1N1 and number in SKIMS has gone up to172 since October last year.
The spokesperson however said no death was reported today.
Out of 11 admitted patients, only one patient is on ventilator, the official said, adding, three patients were discharged from the hospital.
The spokesperson said 145 cases were seen in OPD of SKIMS today.
Under Directorate of Health Services hospitals, 473 patients were seen in OPDs; 28 samples were tested for H1N1 Influenza; 14 cases tested positive, 3 negative and reports in 11 cases were still awaited, an official spiokesman said.
The SKIMS spokesperson meanwhile said twenty thousand Tamiflu tablets and 2000 N95 masks were received by the hospital.
Reiterating its appeal, the SKIMS official asked people to maintain hygiene, wear masks and avoid gatherings. The official also advised people to avoid unnecessary visits to hospitals.
Meanwhile Governor N.N. Vohra has called for a sharp and close vigil to be maintained over the H1N1 situation in the State, while expressing satisfaction over the improved availability of medicines and protective equipments.
Additional 57,000 Tamiflu tablets, 600 N 95 Masks, 600 PPE Units and 90 VTM viles were received today by the Director Health Services in Srinagar. SKIMS has received 20,000 Tamiflu tablets and 2000 H1N1 masks today. Similarly, 4440 Tamiflu tablets, 300 N 95 Masks, 400 PPE Units and 60 VTM viles were received by the Director, Health Services, Jammu and an additional 200 VTM viles shall be delivered tomorrow.
The review held today disclosed that 7559 patients have so far been seen in OPD in the two medical Colleges and various hospitals of the State. Out of the total 111 samples taken for H1N1, 03 cases have been tested positive, 19 have turned out to be negative and 21 patients have been admitted till date.
As of today, the Directorate of Health Services Jammu (DHSJ) received another 4,440 Tamiflu tablets out of which 400 have been issued to GMC Jammu and 3,600 to the District Hospitals. Similarly, out of 400 PPE kits received, 200 each have been issued to the GMC Jammu and the District Hospitals. Out of 300 N-95 masks received, in addition to already available 122 masks, 100 masks have been issued to GMC Jammu and 220 to the District Hospitals. 60 VTMs have also been received today. 2410 Tamiflu tablets, 82 VTM, 128 PPEs and 102 Masks are in stock.
The Raj Bhavan spokesperson disclosed that as per the daily situation report received from the Director Health Services Jammu (DHSJ), 152 patients were seen in the GMC Jammu OPD today and 21 samples were taken for H1N1 Influenza. In all 8 cases have been found positive and 19 negative.
In SKIMS 145 patients were seen in OPD and 17 samples were taken for tests; 19 cases have tested positive for H1N1 Influenza and 03 patients were discharged in the last 24 hours; 11 patients remain admitted in the Isolation Ward. The total number of cases which have tested positive in SKIMS so far is 172.
Under DHSK hospitals, 473 patients were seen in OPD; 28 samples were tested for H1N1 Influenza; 14 cases tested positive, 03 negative and reports in 11 cases are still awaited.
Under prescribed anti-virals cause of deaths
SRINAGAR Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today said that there is increase in flu activity in view of growing number of lab confirmed cases and deaths due to H1N1 in the Valley.
No one knows what weeks or months will bring in terms of flu activity so it is important not to be complacent about the ongoing risk of H1N1, a DAK spokesman said.
President DAK and H1N1 expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan said that underprescribed antiviral medication (Tamiflu) to people with severe disease or who are at risk of complications are responsible for severe outcomes like hospitalization and deaths, the spokesman said.
A research paper published in Lancet in Mach 2014 clearly shows that early antiviral medication significantly reduces deaths due to H1N1?.
He said that Antivirals though not a substitute for vaccine, shorten the duration and reduce the severity of illness and risk of dying from H1N1, he said.
Clinicians should not wait for test result in severe and high risk and should prescribe antivirals within two days of beginning of illness to prevent fatalities.
Moreover there can be false negatives results of tests so clinical judgment is paramount and early treatment is life saving. Antivirals become important when there is a possibility of a circulating strain that is different from current vaccination.
Antivirals for chemoprophylaxis to close contacts and health care workers should be started as early as possible to reduce the spread of disease, he said.
In view of nonavailability of vaccines in the valley antivirals become an important tool of defense and clinicians should recognize the utility of these drugs in the current H1N1 outbreak, the spokesman added.
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