Fliers to be quarantined at airport
Times of India
Prafulla Marpakwar , TNN 7 August 2009, 03:11am IST
MUMBAI: A month after there was in panic in Pune and parts of the metropolis because of swine flu reports, the public health department is now
considering quarantining all travellers returning to India from countries where a large number of cases of high fever have been reported.
"It's a difficult task but we will have to examine if we can quarantine all cases of swine flu at the airport itself. We will have to examine if we have adequate infrastructure for the purpose,'' Rajendra Shingane, public health minister said on Thursday.
So far, there are more than 150 cases of confirmed swine flu in the Pune-Mumbai region. All these persons had returned to Pune or Mumbai from countries affected by swine flu. "In most foreign countries, there are quarantine facilities at the airport. These are required in Pune and Mumbai as well because all those with swine flu have returned from foreign trips,'' a senior public health official said.
The official admitted that there was an inordinate delay on the part of the public health department to invoke the provisions of the Epidemic Act. "Though more than 150 cases were reported only in the Pune area, we woke up only after the death of a 14-year-old girl. This clearly shows there was a lack of seriousness on the part of the Pune municipal corporation as well as the public health department,'' he said.
Hinduja hospital director G B Davar has welcomed chief minister Ashok Chavan's move to rope in private hospitals. "Prima facie, it appears that in view of the huge rush and panic in the entire Mumbai-Pune region, the state was unable to cope with the situation. We will extend all possible help to the public health department,'' Davar said.
According to Davar, it was essential for private hospitals to be provided with prescribed kits if they are roped in. "The screening has to be done according to the guidelines prescribed by the Centre and WHO,'' he said.
On the possibility of checking persons returning from abroad, Davar added that infected persons could be quarantined at the airport itself.
Times of India
Prafulla Marpakwar , TNN 7 August 2009, 03:11am IST
MUMBAI: A month after there was in panic in Pune and parts of the metropolis because of swine flu reports, the public health department is now
considering quarantining all travellers returning to India from countries where a large number of cases of high fever have been reported.
"It's a difficult task but we will have to examine if we can quarantine all cases of swine flu at the airport itself. We will have to examine if we have adequate infrastructure for the purpose,'' Rajendra Shingane, public health minister said on Thursday.
So far, there are more than 150 cases of confirmed swine flu in the Pune-Mumbai region. All these persons had returned to Pune or Mumbai from countries affected by swine flu. "In most foreign countries, there are quarantine facilities at the airport. These are required in Pune and Mumbai as well because all those with swine flu have returned from foreign trips,'' a senior public health official said.
The official admitted that there was an inordinate delay on the part of the public health department to invoke the provisions of the Epidemic Act. "Though more than 150 cases were reported only in the Pune area, we woke up only after the death of a 14-year-old girl. This clearly shows there was a lack of seriousness on the part of the Pune municipal corporation as well as the public health department,'' he said.
Hinduja hospital director G B Davar has welcomed chief minister Ashok Chavan's move to rope in private hospitals. "Prima facie, it appears that in view of the huge rush and panic in the entire Mumbai-Pune region, the state was unable to cope with the situation. We will extend all possible help to the public health department,'' Davar said.
According to Davar, it was essential for private hospitals to be provided with prescribed kits if they are roped in. "The screening has to be done according to the guidelines prescribed by the Centre and WHO,'' he said.
On the possibility of checking persons returning from abroad, Davar added that infected persons could be quarantined at the airport itself.