The Government Multi Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector-16 has set up a control room and launched a helpline number to maintain an intensive surveillance to prevent the spread of dreaded H5N1 virus in the city beautiful and provide information about it to the common people.
“The helpline number (7837318503) has been made operational from Wednesday. This helpline will be operational 24 hours. We have asked the PGIMER authorities to depute some doctors to us to help GMSH-16 to start this helpline,” said Satbir Singh, Senior Medical Officer, GMSH, Sector-16He said “We will highlight the helpline number to make the general public aware about it, so that the people can take advantage of the health services and help prevent the spread of Bird Flu.”By calling on the helpline number, people can seek help, if they have the symptoms, similar to the Bird Flu. They can also check if there is any confirmed case of Bird Flu in Chandigarh, added the SMO.As people were not aware about the helpline on Wednesday, only two calls were received on the number. The callers inquired about the symptoms of Bird Flu and also asked what preventions are needed if someone is having these symptoms.
“Anyone, who had been in direct contact with the ducks at Sukhna lake, in last ten days, should immediately get himself checked at the Isolation Ward. UT health department has set up isolation wards at all prominent hospitals of Chandigarh, including Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Sector-32, PGIMER and GMSH,” said Dr Satbir Singh.The control room for this helpline has been set up at GMSH, where eight operators have been deputed on the phone lines to assist the general public. So far, no cases of Bird Flu in humans has been reported in the city.