Even as ten more confirmed cases of swine flu have been detected in the state – 3 in Salcete – a recent meeting at the South Goa Collectorate witnessed directions to the Collectorate officials like mamlatdars and BDOs to submit a report on August 12 regarding the areas that are prone to swine flu.
Out of a total of the 17 throat swabs sent for testing at the National Institute of Disease Control, Delhi, ten have been confirmed for H1N1.
Five cases have history of travel to places in neighbouring states like Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
As the number of cases are rising, the chief officers in South Goa have been asked to monitor the exercise in municipality areas and panchayat areas. BDOs have also been asked to monitor the situation. The BDOs have been told to take help of the Anganwadi teachers.
Health services department has requested members of the public to avoid crowded places and gatherings and also to avoid travelling to neighbouring districts in other states as far as possible in view of the prevailing situation.
The Directorate of Health Services has also issued necessary guidelines to all the educational institutions to take precautionary measures. Awareness programmes on hand washing, hygiene, cough etiquettes have been stepped up at all levels to contain the spread of the disease in view of increased cases reported from the districts in the neighbouring states.
In South Goa, 46 swine flu cases have been detected and two people have succumbed to the dreaded disease. The total number of H1N1 cases from January 2010 onwards till date are 20 (all Goa), out of which one person has expired.
[Source]
