As the cases of swine flu is surfacing elsewhere Jharkhand is slowly waking up to the threat that could hit the city considering its connectivity to the places where the cases have been reported so far. Hitherto the measures are too little and effective to prevent the virus hitting the State but health directorate vowed to step up efforts in coming days.
According to sources, in the wake of suspected cases of swine flu reported in Delhi, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and other parts of India, Jharkhand has put medical services on alert to nip the problem in its bud after the Central Government asked States to remain cautious about the outbreak.
“We have been asked to remain alert and send teams wherever suspected cases are reported. At present the cases of swine flu are treated at RIMS. We have not received any reports of suspected patients,” said Civil Surgeon, Ranchi, Gopal Shrivastava.
The verbal order issued by the Directorate of Health Services has asked civil surgeons to prepare infrastructures such as a separate bed to quarantine suspects of the viral infection and also be prepared with necessary medicines to control the spread of the deadly virus whose symptoms are similar to seasonal flu and regular flu identified commonly by fever, cough, sore throat, body pain, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue.
Nonetheless, the alert is too feeble against the formidable opponent that has claimed lives elsewhere. As many as 60 cases of death due to the deadly virus have been reported across the country in past one month in three States—Delhi, Gujarat and Telangana — is witnessing steep rise in the number of cases with few others facing the threat of H1N1—the strain of the virus.
With thousands coming everyday to Ranchi from the national capital and the worst affected State— Telangana — also not far, the scare is real if not enough to press panic button.
“Till now we have not been asked to depute any doctor at Railway stations to identify suspects,” added the Civil Surgeon. Prevention is definitely a better option than the cure for the contagious disease however the entry points to the city lay unguarded and a suspect slipping into the city is just a matter of time. As thousands commute between Ranchi and national capital which seen more cases in the country in 2015, the probability is too high for strain making its way in the capital but contrary to the threat perception screening mechanism is yet to be put up in place to quarantine people carrying the virus.
Notwithstanding the thoroughfare at the entry points the State Government has decided to approach manufacturers of the anti-viral vile for the strain and the process is likely to begin from Monday. The Directorate of Health Services has decided to purchase medicines to deal with the outbreak if it happens in Jharkhand.