Mangaluru: Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khadar held a press meet at the Circuit house here on February 16.
Addressing the mediapersons U T Khader said that in the state there were only 18 deaths due to Swine flu. Eight deaths in the month of January and 9 in February were reported in the state of which one is a old case. Khader also said that all precautions have been taken to combat Swine Flu in the district as well as in the state.
Khader briefing on the disease, said that the health department in the state has taken special care to treat patients who have come to the hospital with fever. If the fever doesn’t go down for three days, such patients will be tested, so far 1,157 patients have been tested and 285 cases found positive, 173 patients have recovered fully and 15 patients with high fever are under treatment.
Like seasonal flu, swine flu can lead to more serious complications, including pneumonia and respiratory failure. If anyone experiences symptoms like shortness of breath, severe vomiting, abdominal pain and dizziness, they should immediately go to the nearby hospital for check-up. There is no shortage of Tami Flu tablets, they will be available free of cost. The health department will provide swine flu medicines even to private hospitals. Khader also urged the people not to panic as the government has taken all the measures to treat H1N1.
When asked about the shortage of Swine flu medicines at the Rajiv Gandhi Chest Institute, Khader said that action will be taken against those who have given wrong information about the availability of medicine.
In Mangaluru 60 samples were collected of which 10 have tested positive. The people who have tested positive are from other districts and state.
Khader also said that the salary of the Contract MBBS doctors have been revised to Rs 40,000 from Rs 26,000 and Rs 2000 will be added for MBBS doctors who will be working in rural area where the population is less than 25,000.
