Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 24)

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 15)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 15)

H1N1 claims another life in the state

CHENNAI: The H1N1 virus claimed another life as a 40-year-old woman from Sriperumbudur died on Saturday. This is the second officially recorded death in the State in the second wave of swine flu this year.

On Friday, an assistant public relations officer in the Secretariat died of the flu ? the first officially recorded one.

Dr C Veni, Medical Superintendent at the Government General Hospital, said Vasanthi of Sriperumbudur was admitted on Monday after she complained of acute breathlessness. She also suffered from hypothyroidism and diabetes, making her condition complicated. ?It was a case of late referral, and the presence of hypothyroid and uncontrolled diabetes made the treatment process difficult.?

Presently, seven suspected cases are being treated at GGH, of which three have been declared positive. Throughout TN, 20 positive H1N1 cases have been reported.

According to a senior official, a clinic for swine flu vaccine would soon be started at the Kings Institute, Guindy. He said the vaccine should be sold only on production of doctor?s prescription. It is meant only for certain target groups, like those with chronic health problems and those planning to visit foreign countries.


http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/h1n1-claims-another-life/206292.html

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 15)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 15)

Vaccination drive to stop spread of swine flu

Chennai, Sep 13 (PTI) In the wake of reports on frequent deaths due to swine flu in the state, Tamil Nadu Government today launched a vaccination programme to curb the spread of H1N1 virus. The programme, claimed to be implemented for the first time in the country for administering Nasovac and Vaxiflu to the public, was launched by Health Minister M R K Paneerselvam at Kings Institute of Preventive Medicine here. The charge for the vaccination was Rs 150, official sources said. The government had also initated a plan to vaccinate government hospital staff, where the prevalence of spreading H1N1 virus was more, the sources said. It is also planned to setup more such vaccination centres with the help of private companies if need arises. During the last one week, three swine flu deaths were reported in the state.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/vaccination-drive-to-stop-spread-of-swine-flu/317121.html

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 16)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 16)

H1N1 scare: People throng vaccination clinic


CHENNAI: Not for tickets for a Rajinikanth blockbuster nor for tickets to a one-dayer between India and Pakistan. For once, the long line of people had something else on their mind ? their health! After all, it was swine flu that they were up against. Day one of the opening of the swine flu vaccination clinic at the King?s Institute in Guindy on Monday was a roaring success with a steady stream of people trickling in to get their shot. And this even when most of the swine flu cases were being reported from Vellore and Coimbatore, where as announced by Health Minister M R K Paneerselvam, similar swine flu centres would be opened.

The officials at the King?s Institute had their hands full, vaccinating a wide range of people, which also included 34 children from an orphanage in the city.

Not even 15 and yet the children seemed to have grasped the seriousness of the issue, possessing much knowledge about the dreaded disease. The representative from the orphanage said, ? We did not want to take any risk as children are from the vulnerable group.? ?For day one, the response from the public has been pretty good. A total of 334 vaccine shots were given, which included 175 males and 125 females.

There was a steady flow of people, ? said Dr Porkai Pandian, Director, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

There were many like Zaira Banu, who welcomed the move to introduce the vaccination for the public.

There were many who had turned up for the vaccination with their families too. Arun Kumar and his wife Krishnaveni, who had come from Mylapore, speaking to Express said that the vaccine was much awaited. ?Through the media, we came to know that the vaccines were being given. So we decided to take advantage of the same,? said Arun Kumar.

Others like Krithika Kailashnath aligned themselves with the ?better safe than sorry? concept.

The Health Minister, meanwhile, urged people to visit government hospitals if they found they had any symptoms of swine flu. He also said that private hospitals needed to be cautious about diagnosing the disease and suggesting proper treatment as most of the deaths were because of the late referrals.

The two vaccines available are the nasal spray costing Rs150 and the Vasiflu injection costing Rs 250.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/h1n1-scare-people-throng-vaccination-clinic/206596.html

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 16)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 16)

AIADMK demands free vaccination against A(H1N1) virus

The opposition AIADMK on Tuesday demanded that the government launch a vaccination drive against A(H1NI) virus free of cost through Primary Health Centres and community health institutions.

A. Anbalagan, AIADMK local unit secretary, in a press release, said the government should act fast as the threat of swine flu was looming large with some patients with symptoms of influenza undergoing treatment in JIPMER.

There should be no let up in preventive measures in the Union Territory, he said.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/article635263.ece

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 16)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 16)

Health machinery geared up to takcle swine flu: CM

Puducherry, Sept 14 (PTI): The health department has been put on alert to tackle any exigencies of swine flu, according to Chief Minister V Vaithilingam. He said the government also planned to take up vaccination drive against flu, which has been on the decline for the past few months. "The government had also geared up the machinery and alerted it to rise to any exigency," he said. (Five patients, including two students of JIPMER are undergoing treatment for swine flu symptoms. One of them is an eight year old boy). Vaithilingam said the government would soon bring out a legislation similar to the one in Kerala to prevent workers of unrecognised unions holding merchants to ransom by extracting money and posing a threat to them during loading and unloading of cargo. The Chamber of Commerce had petitioned Vaithilingam earlier at the end of a rally in this regard.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfe...-geared-up-to-takcle-swine-flu-cm/318996.html

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 16)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 16)

Isolation ward set up for swine flu in Erode GH

Erode (TN), Sept 15 (PTI) A five-bedded isolation ward has been set up in the Erode Government General Headquarters Hospital to treat A(H1N1) flu cases. Two doctors, trained in dealing with the flu, and nurses have been posted on round-the-clock duty in the ward, which came into being last evening, hospital Superintendent Dr Krishnakumar said. The ward had been set up as per the instructions of the Government, he said adding sufficient quantity of drugs for treating the disease had been stocked in the hospital. The hospital authorities said no swine flu case had been reported in the district and people need not panic about the disease.


http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfe...-set-up-for-swine-flu-in-erode-gh/323034.html

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 16)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 16)

One more succumbs to swine flu in Coimbatore


A farmer succumbed to H1N1 virus today, taking the toll due the disease in the last ten days to two.

Ponnusamy (48), a resident of Nallichettipalayam of Annur, about 40 kms from here, was suffering from severe fever for the last two days and his swab tests confirmed swine flu, hospital sources said.

He succumbed to the flu in the wee hours today, they said.

A senior Bank official from Chennai died of swine flu last week.

With the death of Ponnusamy, the swine flu toll in the district in the last ten months has risen to six.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/article674391.ece

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 16)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 16)

The numbers of fatalities and cases refers to the 2010 season only. There were six official fatalities in the 2009 season (although quite a few suspect fatalities were attributed to pneumonia or ARDS not H1N1). In addition, 9 Tamil Nadu residents have died in Puducherry.

A(H1N1) flu vaccine to be provided free of cost for BPL communities: Minister
Special Correspondent
The Government Order to provide the A (H1N1) influenza vaccine free of cost to people below the poverty line had been issued on Saturday morning, Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam said here on Saturday.

A certificate from the Village Administrative Officer will suffice to avail of this facility, he said. Until Saturday, 10 persons had died of A (H1N1) influenza in the State and another 11 persons were found to be infected and 139 persons had been quarantined either at home (50 persons) or in the hospital (89 persons) and were receiving treatment, Mr. Panneerselvam added.
Speaking to presspersons ahead of the workshop for health officials, the Minister said the 10 persons who had died had other chronic conditions which interfered with the treatment for the infection. He also said 90 per cent of the patients had been brought to government hospitals from private hospitals during the end-stage of the disease and lives could not be saved.

Apart from a workshop for health officials at the level of deputy directors and assistant directors, a meeting with private hospitals would also be held on Saturday to sensitise them on the need to alert health officials in their respective areas and provide details of persons being treated for the infection.

The Minister said so far across the State 774 persons were confirmed to have suffered from the viral infection and 635 of them had been cured. While in the first phase, 19,930 public health officials involved in treating the flu had been immunised, in the second phase on Friday, 18,854 health department workers had received the vaccine.

At the King Institute in Guindy, about 3,000 persons had voluntarily opted to be vaccinated so far, he added.
http://www.thehindu.com/health/policy-and-issues/article696980.ece

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 17)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 17)

Six city corpn labs to provide H1N1 vaccines


CHENNAI: Taking note of the second wave of H1N1 which is spreading wider in the city than the first wave last year, the Chennai Corporation has decided to provide vaccines at its six labs. The state-run King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research at Guindy has been giving the vaccines since Monday last.

The Corporation lab at Valluvar Kottam High Road will start vaccinations on Sunday and the rest on Monday. The other laboratories are at Perambur, EVR Periyar Salai, Saidapet, Tiruvanmiyur and Choolai. Vaccines, both nasal spray and injectable, will be given from 10am at Rs 150 per head, mayor M Subramanian said.

The corporation's health department has found that a majority of H1N1 cases this time were from Mylapore, Kodambakkam, Anna Nagar and Pulianthope. Last year, the cases were reported from non-resident Indians, but this year the infection is indigenous and widespread, P Kuganantham , health officer, Chennai Corporation, said. The city has recorded 169 cases in the last two months, including 51 people now undergoing treatment.

Health minister MRK Paneerselvam said it was a matter of concern that some private hospitals were not reporting H1N1 cases. The directorate of public health recorded 11 new positive cases across the state on Saturday, even as 139 people are being treated for the flu in hospitals.

Read more: Six city corpn labs to provide H1N1 vaccines - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...accines/articleshow/6583116.cms#ixzz0zwuJRKE8

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 17)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 17)

H1N1 cases on the rise, TN fights on war footing

CHENNAI: In the wake of increasing deaths due to the H1N1 (swine flu) virus across the State, the health department on Saturday hit the panic button and initiated urgent measures to prevent the spread of the disease. There has been a flurry of activity since Wednesday, with Health Minister M R K Panneer*selvam chairing several meetings to discuss the problem.

Speaking to reporters, the Minister said the virus had hit Chennai, Coimbatore and Vellore the hardest. Health Secretary V K Subburaj admitted that H1N1 cases in the state were on the rise and that the next four months were going to be difficult, and warranted increased awareness.

?In the last nine months, the State has recorded about 900 swine flu cases and about 120 are still under treatment.? He said the number of deaths this year due to the virus was 10. Last year, the figure was 12.

The Minister also said awareness campaigns about the virus in rural areas have been intensified and measures have been taken to appoint at least one senior doctor in all government hospitals to treat the disease.

Later in the day, the Minister warned doctors from private clinics across the city on treating patients with swine flu with the ?utmost care?.

Without naming hospitals, Panneerselvam said many priv*ate hospitals had hidden the death details (of patient affli*cted with the virus). He advi*sed them not to ?dump? such patients in government hospitals as a last resort.

The Chennai Corporation has also announced a massive vaccination drive in the city, starting on Monday. Corporation sources said the civic body has planned to buy about 10,000 doses of the flu vaccine to administer to the public.

http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu/h1n1-cases-on-the-rise-tn-fights-on-war-footing/208023.html

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 17)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 17)

7 more swine flu cases in Kovai
PTI | 09:09 PM,Sep 19,2010

Coimbatore, Sept 19 (PTI) Seven persons who tested positive for swine flu have been admitted to the Government Hospital here, hospital sources said today. The patients, including two children, were undergoing treatment at different private hospitals and tested postive for A (H1N1) influenza following which they had been shifted to the GH since last evening, hospital sources said. They had been quarantined in the isolation ward, the sources said. Two persons had died of swine flu in the GH during the last 15 days. The state government has last week launched a vaccination drive in view of a spurt in the number of swine flu cases in the recent weeks.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/7-more-swine-flu-cases-in-kovai/336961.html

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 17)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 17)

Is Centre fudging data on TN swine flu deaths?

CHENNAI: Is the Union Health Ministry fudging data on swine flu deaths? You would assume so if you were to go by the consolidated list of A(H1N1) cases across the country put out by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

The fiction: according to the Union health ministry?s list, Tamil Nadu witnessed no ?death of lab confirmed cases during the week Sept 6-12?. The fact: the week saw two deaths in quick succession ? on September 10 and 11, a fact confirmed by the State government.

If this is the case with respect to Tamil Nadu, one wonders if the figur*es put out by the PIB for the rest of the country are credible. For, it is the Centre?s statistics that determine the policy the country will take to fight the disease.

T Porkai Pandian, director, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, when contacted, blamed the Centre for the slip. ?We have asked the Union hea*lth ministry to update their website as the figures are misleading. In fact, they are supposed to update it as and when a lab-confirmed death occurs anywhere in the country and the State government concerned informs them, but that has not happened,? he said.

According to the Centre?s website, there have been seven lab-confirmed A(H1N1) deaths in Tamil Nadu since May 2009. In contrast, State records peg the figure at 10. That includes ano*ther case of lab-confirmed death on Sept*ember 17 in Coimbatore. The State has recorded about 900 swine flu cases, of which about 100 are still under treatment. The Tamil Nadu health department?s website on swine flu has not been updated since July 1, 2009.


http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu/is-centre-fudging-data-on-tn-swine-flu-deaths/208331.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 17)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 17)

Girl child succumbs to swine flu in TN
STAFF WRITER 20:2 HRS IST
Coimbatore, Sep 21 (PTI) A three-year-old girl died due to swine flu at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, taking the A(H1N1) toll in the district this month to three.

Swetha of Surampatty Valasai in neighbouring Erode district was admitted to the hospital yesterday after she tested positive for the virus.

She died late last night without responding to treatment, hospital sources said.

The girl was suffering from high fever for the past one week and had been treated at a private hospital.

A 48-year old farmer and a senior Bank official from Chennai had died of swine flu here in the last fortnight.
http://ptinews.com/news/971477_Girl-child-succumbs-to-swine-flu-in-TN

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 18)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 18)

Comment: The bolded statement below contains figures for this season only (probably since April 1). While each confirmed case has been added to the weekly consolidated status report, not one single fatality has been added. These figures are only beginning to emerge due to persistant media investigation in the past few weeks, first by the Times of India, and now also by the Express group. The Hindu, from where this report came does not seem to investigate to the same extent.

A(H1N1): officials told to visit houses
Special Correspondent
Court for treatment provided to all 130 affected persons
State government submits report on steps taken


CHENNAI: The First Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday instructed the State government to issue a direction to the officers of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Health Sub Centres to visit swine flu-affected houses and other houses to control the situation.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice M. Yusuf Eqbal and T.S. Sivagnanam also wanted the government to provide all possible treatment to the 130 persons affected with swine flue and submit a report about the result of treatment. “It is needless to say that the monitoring committee should continue to monitor the situation,” the Bench said after the State government submitted a report in the court on swine flue situation and the steps taken by it to control the disease.

The government report followed after R. Balasubramanian, an advocate affiliated to the AIADMK, wanted a direction from the court to the give proper treatment to every one. In his report, Health Secretary V.K. Subburaj said of the 3,596 samples tested so far, 774 cases were found to be positive. Six hundred and thirty five cases were treated and discharged. Only nine deaths were reported and other patients are under treatment.

“Availability of vaccines for H1N1 fever has been given wide publicity. Vaccination at the lowest cost is arranged at King Institute, Guindy, and Chennai Corporation Laboratories, Chennai,” the report said. The government also told the court about free vaccination to families living under below poverty line. It sanctioned Rs. 15 crore for vaccination of 10 lakh people initially. For the others, vaccination would be available at the lowest cost.

The Health department has commenced screening of school and college students, besides creating isolation wards in all medical college hospitals and district headquarters hospitals to manage the patients affected with H1N1. “Adequate antiviral drugs and Tamiflu tablets and syrups are issued to all the Government medical institutions and adequate quantity is stocked in the headquarters,” the report said.

As regards Kanyakumari, Chennai, Vellore and Coimbatore districts, where the virus had spread, the government is carrying out intensive screening of fever cases in colleges, schools and houses.

All the 1,539 PHCs, 8,706 Health Sub Centres and local body health staff are involved in active case finding through house visit and health education. The list of the fever cases admitted in the hospitals is collected and Health Inspectors visit the affected houses and organise control measures.

http://hindu.com/2010/09/22/stories/2010092256800100.htm

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 18)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 18)

City Prof, 3-Year-Old Die Of H1N1
Times of India
21 September 2010
Chennai, India

A 26?year?old associate professor of mathematics at JBAS College in the city died on Sunday at a private hospital after contracting H1N1. Officials at the Chennai Corporation said they received medical reports from a private hospital in Anna Nagar stating that Fozia Bhanu, admitted on September 8, died due to cardio?respiratory arrest at 7.30 pm on Sunday.

"We are still reading through the medical reports. She was confirmed positive for H1N1, but we don?t know why the hospital failed to save her," said Chennai Corporation health officer Dr P Kuganandam.

According to the state public health registry, the spread of the flu has been milder this year compared to last year. "For instance, we had 963 cases in August 2009, but this year the number of cases was just 300. Reports about confirmed cases come to us from diagnostic labs," says director of public health Dr RT Porkai Pandian. The state has so far reported 802 positive cases for viral infection this year.

Chennai Corporation officials said they were creating awareness among doctors in the private sector for early diagnosis, treatment and reporting. "As they begin treatment, it is important to keep the civic body informed because that will enable us to track the neighbourhood and prevent further spread. There are adequate stocks of both testing kits and anti?viral tablets in the state," said Dr Kuganandam.

Meanwhile in Coimbatore, a three?yearold girl died of H1N1 influenza, on Monday. According to hospital authorities, Swetha was admitted to the Erode Government Hospital with a respiratory problem on Sunday evening.

The child, who hailed from Surapatti Valasu in Erode district, is the third person to die of H1N1 flu in the last one month in Coimbatore. Earlier this month a bank official and a cotton merchant died of the flu.
http://pune.aarogya.com/index.php/news-and-update/city-prof-3-year-old-die-of-h1n1

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 19)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 19)

All measures taken to control swine flu in TN: Govt


Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has said all measures have been taken to control swine flu, which has claimed nine lives so far and that it has announced free vaccination to all families below the poverty line.

In a report in the Madras High Court, Principal Secretary to the Health department said the government had sanctioned Rs 15 crore for vaccinating 10 lakh people initially. For others it would be continued at the lowest cost.

So far, 3,596 samples were tested, of which 774 were found positive while 635 cases were treated and discharged, it said.

'In all districts, fever surveillance activities have been stepped up. All 1539 Primary Health Centres, 8,706 health sub centres and local body health staff are involved in active case finding through house visits and health education,' the report said.

Besides, lists of all fever cases admitted to hospitals were being collected and health inspectors have visited affected houses and organised control measures, it said adding that the virus had spread to Chennai, Kanyakumari, Vellore and Coimbatore districts this year.

Screening of school and college students for H1N1 had commenced, the government said.

The health minister, principal secretary, health and family welfare department and director, public health and preventive medicine were monitoring the situation daily, it said.

In all nine programme officers in the cadre of joint director from the headquarters were visiting endemic districts to help district health administrations organise control measures, the report said.

Noting the submissions, the first Bench, comprising Chief Justices M Y Eqbal and T S Sivagnanam directed the government to give all possible treatment to 130 persons affected by the virus and submit a report on the result of treatment.

News and tweets from Chennai

Stating that the monitoring committee should continue their task, the Bench told the committee to issue specific directions to its officers of primary health centres and sub-centres to visit affected houses.

The court was hearing a petition filed by an advocate R Balasubramanian seeking a direction to appoint a team of doctors and nurses, with sufficent medicines, to visit all villages and tackle H1N1 flu on a war footing.

The petition has been posted for hearing on October 19.

http://sify.com/news/all-measures-t...flu-in-tn-govt-news-national-kjvwuffageb.html

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 19)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 19)

Swine flu fear triggers mad scramble for shots

CHENNAI: Continued reports on swine flu deaths, coupled with a government advisory for people to go in for vaccination to be safe than sorry, has led to increased fear among people about the A(H1N1) virus and a mad scramble for taking shots.

Hospitals and clinics in areas like Adambakkam and Tambaram have been flooded with calls from anxious residents wanting to know whether the vaccine was available with them. With the government running no inoculation centre, people are scouting for private hospitals.

According to Deepam Hospital in Chromepet, public demand only forced them to start giving shots for H1N1. ?On day one, we received 20 residents, the next day it was 45,? its MD Dr N Viswanathan told Express on Wednesday. ?This is a growing trend. However, we do not advocate or ask people to get vaccinated. It is voluntary.?

Similar is the case in many clinics and hospitals. Dr A Pandian of Perungalathur said awareness about the infection had increased considerably among the people. ?More and more of them are coming forward to get vaccinated alth*ough complications in H1N1 is extremely rare,? he said.

M Pugazhendi of Adambakkam said H1N1 shots were not available in many local private hospitals. ?The government must make the vaccine available in local health centres.? S Arun Irumbuliyur said he chose to vaccinate his children, given that it was examination season for them. ?I cannot make them wait at Kings Institute in Guindy for hours together. It?s comparatively expensive in Tambaram, but I got them vaccinated there.?

Journalists too seem to be in the grip of anxiety. On the day when a 40-year-old IT professional succumbed to swine flu, an immunisation camp at Chennai Press Club drew hordes of scribes, who came along with their families to get vaccinated. In fact, a total of 600 persons by evening.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chennai/swine-flu-fear-triggers-mad-scramble-for-shots/209279.html

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 19)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 19)


IT professional dies of swine flu

CHENNAI: A 40-year-old IT professional died of swine flu on Wednesday at the Sri Ramachandra Medical Hospital in Chennai taking the total number of A(H1N1) flu deaths in the State to 13. The latest death has also triggered panic among the colleagues of the victim.

The deceased, Ramesh, an IT company employee at Anna Nagar, had high fever for the past one week, his colleague said. ?As he did not respond to medicines, he was admitted to a hospital five days ago. He tested positive for H1N1 on Tuesday. On Wednesday around 4 am, he succumbed.?

Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine T Porkai Pandian confirmed that Ramesh died of A(H1N1) influenza. When Ramesh?s colleagues learnt about the death, they rushed to the corporation laboratory at Valluvar Kottam to take their swine flu vaccine shot. Speaking to Express, one colleague said that there was panic in the office ever since he was hospitalised.

?On Tuesday, everyone was scared after Ramesh had tested positive for the flu. Today, the news of his death came as a shock,? he said. He pointed out that it would be better if the vaccinations were provided by the company as most IT employees do not find time to go out for taking the vaccination administered by the corporation labs, which gets over by afternoon. Apart from the 13 deaths, a city college lecturer died two days back and 626 others have tested positive, official sources said.

http://www.chitramala.com/news/it-professional-dies-of-swine-flu-122155.html

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 20)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 20)

AIADMK demands mass vaccination free of cost against swine flu
PTI | 03:09 PM,Sep 23,2010

Puducherry, Sep 23 (PTI): AIADMK has demanded that health authorities here launch a mass vaccination drive free of cost against swine flu. Party local unit secretary A Anbalagan, MLA told reporters Puducherry has already reported some A(H1N1) positive cases and urged authorities to undertake vaccination free of cost at all Primary Health Centres and government hospitals. He also wanted the government to review whether cracker manufacturing units had relevant licenes as two workers of an unlicensed factory were injured yesterday when bundles of wigs they were carrying caught fire after it was ignited by a spark from a two-wheeler silencer. There should be review of the factories and their bonafides, he said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfe...on-free-of-cost-against-swine-flu/346994.html

 

[tetano]

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 20)

Re: Tracking deaths in Tamil Nadu (total 20)

Chennai suburbs have to pay more for H1N1 vaccines

CHENNAI: Concerned by a spurt in H1N1 deaths, the state government recently opened seven centres across Chennai that offers vaccines at a subsidised cost. But residents in the city suburbs, who have been left to depend on private clinics and hospitals, have to pay more for the vaccines.

"Many patients have been asking me about the H1N1 vaccine. I simply direct them to a scan centre, which has been selling the vaccines, as well as an hospital here," said Dr VR Ranjith, a private medical practitioner in Tambaram. Doctors in the area, however, claimed there was no shortage of the vaccine. "After reports about H1N1 deaths and government vaccination programmes, several patients have been asking us whether they need to vaccinate themselves. We tell them that it does not offer 100% protection and does cause some minor side effects like diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting." he said.

According to staff in drug stores in Ambattur, Avadi and Villivakkam, the sale of vaccines was relatively lower in the suburban areas. "We expected it to be higher here as there are no subsidized vaccine centres. But the sale in our Chennai units are much higher," said S Madan, who manages a pharmacy store in the suburbs. Residents in the area said they were hoping to have centres opened in the suburbs.

"The government has announced that the free vaccines would be made available in medical college hospitals and hospitals in district headquarters. There are none in the suburbs. We only hope they make it available at the municipality offices," said S Subramaniam, a resident of Kolathur.

Officials at the directorate of public health said they were working on strategies to expand the vaccination programme. "We are now giving priority to places that have recorded a high incidence. That is why Coimbatore, Kanyakumari and Vellore are top on the list next to Chennai. Among the number of cases Chennai city and Vellore had 50% of the total infections. But we will not leave out other areas and smaller cities," said director of public health Dr RT Porkai Pandian.

Meanwhile, highly placed officials in the health department confirmed that not even a single doze of the H1N1 vaccine was available at the Government Hospital in Coimbatore. Dean of the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, Dr S M Sivakumar said they had received 750 vials and that 700 more were required to cover their entire staff who came under the `high risk' category. Kanyakumari, the tourist destinations from where many cases of swine flu were detected in the past few months has got an initial consignment of 190 vials for vaccinating the government hospital staff and communications have been forwarded to the government for adequate stocks according to Deputy Director of Health Dr S Madusoodanan.


Read more: Chennai suburbs have to pay more for H1N1 vaccines - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ccines-/articleshow/6616459.cms#ixzz10SBaadIM