Since the outbreak of swine flu in Chhattisgarh this year, a total of 202 individuals who could be suffering from swine flu were identified. The samples of these persons were sent to National Disease Control Centre in New Delhi out of which reports of 118 have been received. The reports indicated that only 27 persons are suffering from swine flu, stated Director, Health Services, R Prasanna while addressing a press conference here on Friday.
According to him, only three persons have died due to swine flu in Chhattisgarh and the situation is under control. Replying to a query about availability of swine flu vaccines, he accepted that the State was facing shortage of vaccines and assured that very soon vaccines would be made available. “Out of panic, people are purchasing swine flu vaccines due to which we have run out of vaccines. However, we have initiated the process of procuring more vaccines and within 2-3 days it would be available in the State soon,” Prasanna mentioned.
Expert Dr RK Panda informed that life of these vaccines is only for one year and hence they could not be stocked. “They (swine flu vaccines) are prepared after getting approval from World Health Organization (WHO) and are supplied to every country in fixed quantity,” he said. Prasanna further said that we have sufficient stock of drugs used in the treatment of swine flu.
According to him, a total of 7036, 75 mg Tamiflu capsules, 264, 30 mg Tamiflu capsules are in stock. Similarly 92 bottles of Tamiflu syrup are also available. Further 495 PPE (Personal Proactive Equipment) kits, 360 N-95 masks and 3000 triple layer masks are also avaiable. He further informed that teams of State Health Department were carrying out inspections in private hospitals to keep a tab on the contagious disease.
Replying to question about delay in getting reports of suspected persons, he said the number of authorized labs for testing swine flu was less, however, the process for setting up of new labs have been initiated.