H1N1: BMC told to intensify campaign via posters, theatre slides

The H1N1 virus has so far claimed the lives of 20 people and infected 870 across Mumbai.

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Dr Satish Pawar, director of the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), said, “Most of the patients come to us late for treatment of the viral infection. They generally first prefer to take some medicines at home without prescription. We have now included our pulse polio team to visit each house and inform people about the necessary precautions.”

According to him, the campaigns will focus on the importance of using handkerchiefs while sneezing or coughing, immediate contact with local doctors or hospitals in case fever or flu exceeds a day and ways to maintain hand hygiene. The civic body will use public transport like autorickshaws to spread information about H1N1 virus, along with screening a few seconds of slides in movie halls on the same.

Data from DHS shows that 90 per cent of H1N1 infections are reported from corporations of Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur, followed by recent spurt in Latur.

Sanjay Deshmukh, BMC’s additional municipal commissioner, said, “We have already put up 50,000 posters and advertisements in newspapers on H1N1 virus. With such a large population in Mumbai, it becomes difficult to reach out to every individual. People should maintain personal hygiene themselves.”

2 Kandivali women die of swine flu

A 45-year-old woman from Kandivali, who was suffering from swine flu, succumbed in Nair hospital on Thursday while a 47-year-old Kandivali resident passed away in Ambedkar Hospital on Saturday. The 45-year-old woman was first admitted to Ambedkar hospital on February 26 and two days later shifted to Nair hospital for isolation. The second victim was admitted to Medicenter Nursing Home, Kandivali, on Tuesday and later shifted to Ambedkar hospital on Thursday.

tabassum.barnagarwala@expressindia.com