60 test positive for swine flu, total crosses the 400-mark

Another 60 patients tested positive for swine flu on Sunday, taking the total number of diagnosed patients this year to 420.

Health department officials said the continuing cold weather and the intermittent rainfall are responsible for the surge in cases this year. "We had a few days of relief over the past two weeks, but the rainfall on Friday and Saturday brought down the temperatures again. Humidity levels are still high," an official said.

These conditions, according to experts, are conducive to the growth and spread of the H1N1 virus, which causes swine flu. When the temperatures go up, doctors hope the H1N1 cases are come down.

With the number of diagnosed patients crossing the 400 mark, and nine confirmed deaths reported since January 1, Health Minister Dr A K Walia has held two meetings to review the swine flu management system in Delhi government hospitals. Doctors and scientists from the Central government and National Centre for Disease Control have attended these meetings.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/60-test-positive-for-swine-flu-total-crosses-the-400mark/1075747/

Review panel report in: Liquid oxygen tanks must in 100-bed govt hospitals

Almost two months after four patients at the Sushruta Trauma Centre died when oxygen supply to the ICU they were admitted in failed, a four-member expert committee constituted to review critical care facilities in Delhi government hospitals has completed its report. Health officials maintained they would begin implementing committee's recommendations soon.

Health Minister Dr A K Walia told Newsline that the committee had completed the report and submitted it to the Health department last week. "The committee has recommended changes and upgrades in the system as well as improved training for staff manning critical care systems. The Health department is already working on implementing the committee's recommendations," Walia said.

The recommendations include installing liquid oxygen tanks, purchasing more anaesthesia machines and training the staff to handle oxygen supply and operation theatres.

The committee has urged the government to install liquid oxygen systems in all Delhi government-run hospitals with more than 100 beds. Of the 38 government hospitals, 15 have more than 100 beds. "Eight of these hospitals already have liquid oxygen supply system. We are working on installing it in the remaining hospitals. The committee has also suggested standard oxygen pipelines and ducting in other hospitals," Walia said.

Sources in the Health department said some Delhi hospitals are still working on older manual manifold-operated oxygen supply systems. "An automatic system of oxygen supply will be installed and the older system can be used as a back-up," a senior official said.

The committee recommended that only maintenance of services should be outsourced to private contractors, but the staff should be government employees.

At Sushruta Trauma Centre, maintenance and oxygen supply had been outsourced to PES Installation Pvt Ltd, which has been blacklisted.

The Health department has decided to bridge the staff shortage in Delhi hospitals and impart regular training to all technicians.

The Health department has also decided to double the number of anaesthesia machines in government hospitals. Senior officials said machines would soon be purchased for all hospitals — for ICUs and operation theaters.

The four-member committee, with MAMC Dean Dr A K Aggarwal as its chairman, included Dr Deepak Tempe, HoD (Anaesthesia) GBP Hospital; Dr U C Verma, HoD (Anaesthesia) MAMC and LN Hospital and Dr A K Sethi, HoD (Anaesthesia) GTB Hospital.

Committee recommends

InstalL liquid oxygen tanks in hospital that have more than 100 beds

Standard oxygen pipelines, ducting in other hospitals

buy more anaesthesia machines

Training staff to handle oxygen supply, operation theatres

Only maintenance of services should be outsourced

The committee has recommended changes and upgrades in the system as well as improved training for staff manning critical care systems. The Health department is already working on implementing the recommendations

Dr A K Walia,

Delhi Health Minister

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/review-panel-report-in-liquid-oxygen-tanks-must-in-100bed-govt-hospitals/1072351/0

Three deaths in a month, hospitals on swine flu alert

With 60 patients testing positive for the H1N1 virus since January 1, against a total of four cases reported during the same period last year, the Health department on Thursday called an emergency meeting.

The department has instructed all government hospitals to immediately open isolation wards and keep dedicated ICU beds with ventilator facilities.

Commonly known as swine flu, the symptoms of H1N1 infection are similar to common influenza. But if diagnosed late, can lead to respiratory complications.

Three deaths have been confirmed due to the virus this year. The diagnostic results of two other patients, who are suspected to have died of H1N1-related complications, is awaited.

Health Minister Dr A K Walia said, "We have designated 17 government hospitals and five private hospitals to provide treatment for swine flu. Eight labs, five private and three government hospitals — AIIMS, National Centre for Disease Control and Vallab Bhai Patel Chest Institute — , have been authorised to perform the diagnostic tests for swine flu samples."

This was the third advisory on swine flue this year — two notices were sent in January.

According to Delhi government hospitals, patients had tested positive for the virus from across the city.

Government officials said of the three confirmed deaths, two were from RML Hospital and one at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. All three deaths were from acute respiratory distress syndrome, a common complication associated with swine flu, the minister said.

Dr Walia said since its was a seasonal virus, the intermittent rains over the past two months could have had a role in the rise in cases.

A total of 328 cases and 14 deaths were reported in the first two months of 2010, the highest in five years. In 2011 and 2012, only four cases were reported, with no deaths, in January-February.

The hospitals have been asked to ensure availability of Tamiflu, the drug used to treat the virus. Sources in Delhi government hospitals said no new stocks of the drug had been purchased this year and the drugs purchased last year were being used.

Over the years

Year positive cases deaths

2009 7,088 81

2010 1,850 56

2011 22 2

2012 78 1

2013 60 3

Authorised pvt hospitals for treatment

n Action Balaji

n Apollo

n Moolchand

n Sir Ganga Ram

n St Stephen's

Government hospitals

n Lok Nayak

n Guru Teg Bahadur

n Deen Dayal Upadhyay

n Hindu Rao

n Safdarjung

n Ram Manohar Lohia

Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/three-deaths-in-a-month-hospitals-on-swine-flu-alert/1071210/0