Five swine flu (H1N1) cases have been reported in Himachal Pradesh while another 27 are suspected, said State Health Minister Kaul Singh on Monday. He said the State is fully prepared and all necessary arrangements have been made to deal with the cases of swine flu. Presiding over a meeting of the Health Department here to review the steps being taken to deal with the swine flu cases, he said one more screening machine would be set up soon in the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla.
The Minister said special arrangements have been made at all prominent shrines in the State like Naina Devi, Chintpurni, Jwalaji, Brijeshwari Devi and Baba Balak Nath. Underlining the need for starting a special awareness campaign to educate the masses about the care and prevention from swine flu, he said that hoardings would be installed at all major places carrying the message of adopting precautionary measures besides publicising these through electronic and print media.
He appealed the people to consult doctors in case of such symptoms. Thakur also said that all Chief Medical Officers and Block Medical Officers had been asked to convene meetings with Government and private doctors in their respective areas and also to review the arrangements from time to time. Besides, Asha workers, male and female health workers and representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions would also be sensitised about symptoms and preventive measures for swine flu and they would further create awareness amongst people in their respective areas about swine flu, he added.