Chandigarh to compile data of absentees due to swine flu

Chandigarh, Nov 22 : The health department here has directed the school and college authorities to compile data of students who took off from the educational institutions due to swine flu, an official said Sunday.

The decision has been taken in the wake of falling attendance in schools and colleges.

"The district education officers have been directed to compile data of absentees in schools due to flu-like illness for the last week. We have also told them to submit the data of total number of students sent back home by each school," nodal officer for swine flu H.C. Gera said.

"This data will help us to analyse the situation and establish the linkage for the community spread of the virus. However, the overall condition is under control and we are fully equipped with sufficient drugs and necessary medical facilities," he said.

So far, over 115 confirmed cases of swine flu have come to Chandigarh hospitals, of which 55 were students. Of the total positive cases reported here, 20 belong to Punjab and 24 are natives of Haryana.

There were four casualties from this disease in the region.

Due to swine flu threat among city's educational institutes, four private schools and two engineering colleges here have been closed for one week.

Health department here has also issued strict instructions for all schools, both private and government, to screen every student in the morning and to submit the report card of his/her health to the principal.

There are over 200 schools in Chandigarh.

Besides three more positive cases, including that of a doctor working in a leading hospital here, were reported Sunday.

"We had collected the throat and nasal swab samples of three patients yesterday (Saturday) and their reports have come positive. They are undergoing treatment and are responding well," stated Gera.

Testing facility is available here at the virology department of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), which is catering to the needs of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

For the treatment of positive cases of swine flu, isolation wards have been established here at PGIMER and at government hospitals at sector 16 and 32.