The district health department seems to be oblivious of the fact that chances of spread of diseases especially Swine flu are very much high during the famous Jhanda Fair. It is worth mentioning here that a major chunk of devotees which throng the fair are from the state of Punjab where large number of deaths due to Swine flu was reported recently. It is learnt that the department has done no preparation whatsoever to prevent the spread of Swine flu – on which the state is ostensibly on alert mode- during the fair. The department has deployed no medical team during the fair to screen the people with suspected symptoms of the disease. The laxity of the health department could prove dangerous as devotees from Punjab have arrived in the city in hordes. It is worth mentioning here that more than 70 deaths are reported in Punjab due to swine flu in this year.
When asked to give details of the steps taken by the health department to prevent spread of Swine flu during Jhanda Fair, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Dehradun, Dr S K Agarwal told The Pioneer that as no new case of the disease is reported in last few days in the district so there is no need of any special arrangements. He however added that the medical officers are being asked to keep a check on the suspected cases and immediately inform the district authorities about them. Dr Agarwal claimed that the district has sufficient stock of swine flu medicines and other equipment needed to combat the disease.
The district in charge of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programe (IDSP), Dr Madan Bonal also said that the disease is on a waning phase in the district. He said that 45 samples of the suspected patients for swine flu till date were taken by the district health authorities out of which 14 samples are found positive for the disease. The death toll in the disease this year in the state capital is four till date.
The department though is taking things for granted and appears least concerned the experts believe that people can carry the disease from other states and crowded conditions make the virus to spread at a rapid rate. Further the temperature in the Doon Valley is also conducive for the virus to thrive and spread. lakhs of devotees are expected to throng the state capital in next few days. The PRO of Jhanda fair confirmed that no health team is deployed by the district health department but he quickly added that the Mela committee deploys medical teams and ambulances of Mahant Indiresh hospital during the fair to serve the devotees.