CHANDIGARH: Home-cum-Health Secretary, Ram Niwas Saturday convened another meeting with the representatives of the Health and Education Department to review the Influenza Type A H1N1 situation in Chandigarh. It was informed that as many as 115 confirmed cases of Swine Flu have been reported in city.

Out of this 20 cases belong to Punjab and 24 belong to Haryana. This also includes Swine Flu cases detected by private labs. It was emphasized that all the cases have been treated and are fully cured.

Niwas urged for the proper implementation of the guidelines of the Health and Education Department by all the Government and Private schools, parents and teachers for putting a check on the spread of swine flu cases.

The Nodal Officer-Swine Flu apprised the members about the recommendation of the advisory group. The members of the meeting were apprised of the decisions of the Advisory group regarding strategy for closure of schools /suspension of affected classes, Prophylaxis treatment to the close contacts, unauthorized testing by private laboratory and home quarantine system. The district education officer was requested to compile data of all the schools for the last week with regard to percentage of absentees due to flu like illness and the total number of students with cold and cough conditions sent back by each school. The data will be provided to the Nodal Officer-Swine Flu for analysis and presenting the same for the Advisory group for establishing linkage for the community spread.

Regarding various functions, events and other social gathering in city it was decided that Advisories will be displayed at all such places at the point of entry. Similarly, a team of doctors will also be available at larger functions for events and social gathering to be organized in the Chandigarh. However, for social gathering in the Government and Private schools the authorities shall continue to observe the guidelines given by the Health and Education Department.

There is no panic due to Swine Flu in the city as the UT’s Health Department is fully equipped with sufficient drugs and necessary medical facilities in the Chandigarh. The Secretary Health emphasized that all positive cases should be treated well and be fully cured in the hospitals and at their home places along with the members of the quarantine family.