Agra: Health department in Agra has issued a swine flu (H1N1) alert with screening of domestic and foreign tourists being stepped up at the city’s major tourism sites. It directed authorities to strictly implement the advisory issued by the UP govt.
Officiating chief medical officer Dr Amit Rawat on Tuesday said that vigilance has been increased in the city following swine flu cases in cities such as Delhi and Lucknow.
“Given Agra’s status as a tourist destination, the health department has begun screening visitors at prominent sites, including Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri,” Rawat told TOI. Rawat added that an order for 5,000 Tamiflu tablets had been placed to ensure that hospitals do not face a shortage of the antiviral medicine, if cases show up.
Nodal officer Dr Surendra Mohan Prajapati said special wards and beds were kept reserved for swine flu patients at SN Medical College and the district hospital as a precautionary measure.
Doctors at community health centres have also been given online training, while medical personnel at the district hospital and members of the rapid response team have been administered the anti-swine flu vaccine.
Health officials clarified that not every patient suffering from common cold, cough or fever would be tested for H1N1. Only patients showing severe symptoms would undergo swine flu testing.
Health officials said children below 10 years, people above 70, pregnant women, and those suffering from conditions such as diabetes, cancer, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, blood disorders or diseases affecting the lungs, heart, kidneys or liver are considered more vulnerable to severe illness.
