Mumbai: Existing comprehensive health insurance policies will also cover hospitalisation expenses of patients affected by swine flu, insurance company officials said.
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Some insurers have already received claims for hospital expenses, though the number is not very large. However, given the fact more people are being hospitalised, insurance companies expect the number of claims to go up in the future.
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"Hospitalisation expenses of swine flu patients will be covered under the existing comprehensive health insurance policies of the insurance companies. There is no upper limit on the expenses. The customers can avail themselves of the amount commensurate to the sum assured," said an Oriental Insurance company official.
The hospitalisation charges will be borne by the insurance company subject to the cap on the room rent charges, a New India Assurance Company official said.
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Few claims so far
Swine flu will be covered under all the health insurance and travel insurance policies offered. A few claims have been received but the number is not large, said Sanjay Datta, Head Health Vertical, ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company.
Insurance companies are also expecting claims in the health segment to go up, but not by much.
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The claims in this segment will go up as the number of instances of hospitalisation increases. However, the outbreak is in the initial stages and the number of people who have taken a health insurance policy is also very low. Also, a very small proportion of people who have been diagnosed with the flu have to be hospitalised, Datta said.
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"At this point in time, the incidences of swine flu have not reached any threshold to have a significant impact on the number of claims logged. However, we have robust IT infrastructure and comprehensive network of providers to counter any exigencies that may arise in the near future," said the spokesperson of Apollo DKV, a standalone health insurance company.
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Most of the general insurance companies are operating through Third Party Administrators to settle claims.
Currently, more people are getting themselves tested for the flu rather than being hospitalised. Since the Government is bearing all the costs for the detection tests, the insurance companies are not burdened with that cost. Also, very few insurers offer policies covering OPD expenses, said a TPA official.
Some of the insurers such as ICICI Lombard and Apollo DKV also offer health insurance policies that cover the OPD expenses.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Six mysteries about swine flu
Government officials, public health experts and business leaders have faced a lot of questions about swine flu this week, and three words keep popping up in their answers: "We don't know."
The flu outbreak has spawned many mysteries - 2014 about origin, scope and impact, just for starters - 2014 and some of the most fundamental questions remain unanswered, or unanswerable.
Here's some of what we don't know.
1. How many people have had the virus?
A lot of numbers have bubbled up-2014 more than 100 lab-confirmed cases in the United States, at least 300 in Mexico, and dozens more in a few other countries. And then there are the suspected cases - 2014 thousands in Mexico alone.
But the real number of infections around the world is impossible to know, since many people may contract swine flu and simply get better without ever seeing a doctor. Even among the lab-confirmed cases of swine flu, many people have had only mild symptoms, similar to a run-of-the-mill case of seasonal flu.
Two more swine flu cases in India
2. How big will this get?
This is the million-dollar question, and we probably won't know the answer until scientists figure out how easily the virus spreads and how often it kills. Then, they might be able to project more accurately what damage the outbreak might cause.
An influenza outbreak can spread rapidly and unpredictably, requiring only a cough or sneeze to jump from one person to another. The swine flu has taken hold in densely populated areas like Mexico City, home to 20 million people, where it can spread at an alarming rate. And the disease has popped up in many parts of the world, thanks to easy travel between one continent and another.
Even the public health experts most plugged into swine flu don't want to speculate about the ultimate scope of the outbreak.
There have been some clues about the outbreak's future, though: On Thursday, Mexico's top health official said the number of new swine flu cases is stabilizing, at least in that country. Though WHO's flu chief, reacting to similar comments from other Mexican officials, said WHO hadn't seen evidence of leveling off and cautioned that case numbers often go up and down, particularly in the early stages of an outbreak.
3. When and where did it start?
The virus may have mutated into its current form months or even a year ago, and it happened, well, somewhere in the world.
The first symptoms started to show up in early March in the Mexican state of Veracruz, an area with a number of pig farms. The earliest confirmed case was a 5-year-old boy, one of hundreds of people in the town of La Gloria whose flu symptoms left them struggling to breathe.
People from La Gloria kept going to jobs in Mexico City despite their illnesses, and could have infected people there.
Still, there's no guarantee the virus came into existence in Veracruz. It spreads so easily, it could have made its way to Mexico from just about anywhere.
Some Mexican officials have offered some other suggestions of places where the virus may have begun, such as China, Pakistan or Bangladesh. But the fact is that the flu's origin remains a mystery.
WHO: Swine flu cases worldwide near 20,000
Fortunately, it also doesn't really matter - 2014 the outbreak has made its way around the world, and nothing can be done now at the point of origin to slow it down.
4. Why have so many people died in Mexico, but virtually nobody anywhere else?
OK, this is the REAL million-dollar question, and a swarm of public health experts - 2014 including several from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - 2014 have descended upon Mexico in search of an answer. This is especially a head-scratcher because experts have found no difference in samples of the virus collected in Mexico and the United States.
One theory is that many more people have had the virus in Mexico than health officials realize, and the number of cases there could well eclipse the number anywhere else in the world. If so, that country's death toll %u2014 at least a dozen confirmed deaths and many more suspected ones - 2014 would make sense.
Other theories have been floated %u2014 and ruled out - 2014 for the number of deaths in Mexico:
Lab tests of Mexican patients found no sign of complications from a second infection.
CDC investigators have not seen any obvious problem with low-quality health care.
The CDC found no evidence of an over-the-counter medicine or folk remedy compounding the problem.
Complications from Mexico City's altitude or air pollution are unlikely because severe cases have been reported in parts of Mexico at low altitude and with cleaner air.
5. Who are the victims in Mexico?
The Mexican government has revealed little about the victims, citing privacy reasons. The government has even been a bit haphazard about providing information that would not violate privacy rules, such as ages and hometowns.
After prodding by journalists, Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova revealed Thursday that 5 of the 12 confirmed dead were between the ages of 20 and 40 and that they had an overactive immune system %u2014 possibly explaining why they did not survive.
On Wednesday, when there were 99 confirmed cases, he said 83 of them were from Mexico City. But when the number jumped Thursday, no information about hometowns was offered.
Swine flu special
Also, Mexico's chief epidemiologist, Miguel Angel Lezana, told reporters Wednesday that one of those confirmed dead was a Bangladeshi who had been in Mexico for six months, and whose brother, also apparently sick, had recently visited from Bangladesh or Pakistan.
And on Thursday, Mexico City government officials announced that preliminary investigations showed most of the people suspected to have died of swine flu in the capital lived in poor neighborhoods.
6. Will changes in the WHO alert level help stem the outbreak?
That's the idea, but it's unclear what concrete actions are actually taken by WHO and countries with a change in the alert level, which was bumped up on Wednesday to phase 5, one step away from the highest level, which indicates a global outbreak.
The alert levels mainly signify WHO's assessment of the pandemic situation, but they do come with actions and responsibilities. At the higher alert levels, WHO is essentially warning countries to prepare for a pandemic.
WHO monitors the outbreak situation at every level, but surveillance increases at higher levels for unusual outbreaks, the disease's spread, and the virus' possible drug resistance. WHO may also issue guidance about travel advisories, border closures, closings of schools and offices, and suspension of mass gatherings such as sporting events.
The alert system, however, is largely untested. Monday was the first time it had ever been raised above phase 3, which signifies only occasional cases or small clusters of a new flu virus.
Also, it's ultimately up to individual governments to activate pandemic response plans and to take such steps as closing schools or workplaces where a disease might spread. WHO cannot force countries to comply with recommendations.
At phases 5 and 6, WHO will also consider asking vaccine producers to switch from making seasonal flu vaccine to pandemic vaccine. It will also oversee distribution of its emergency stockpile of 5 million antiviral treatments to countries in need and help negotiate with vaccine makers for a proportion of the vaccine to go to developing countries.
How much does all this help? Until an outbreak has come and gone, the truth is: We don't know.
Available treatments for Swine flu
Swine flu is being treated with antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza. Antiviral drugs work by preventing the flu virus from reproducing - to be effective you need to take them within 48 hours of the symptoms beginning. This can reduce the risk of complications and possibly shorten the illness by a day.
Swine flu in India
All about Swine flu
Some dos and don'ts
Tips to protect yourself
Six mysteries about swine flu
Follow us on twitter
Adverse reactions to Tamiflu
In some cases, antiviral medicine can cause side effects, such as:
* nausea
* vomiting
* diarrhoea
* stomach ache
* headache
Even if you do feel these symptoms it is important that those prescribed antiviral medicine complete the course, even if symptoms of swine flu clear and you start to feel better quickly.
Swine flu in India
All about Swine flu
Some dos and don'ts
Tips to protect yourself
Six mysteries about swine flu
Follow us on twitter
Adverse reactions to Tamiflu
In some cases, antiviral medicine can cause side effects, such as:
* nausea
* vomiting
* diarrhoea
* stomach ache
* headache
Even if you do feel these symptoms it is important that those prescribed antiviral medicine complete the course, even if symptoms of swine flu clear and you start to feel better quickly.
Swine flu - some dos and don'ts
Do not shake hands or hug in greeting and avoid crowded places, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Thursday as it raised the alert for swine flu to Phase 5 - the second highest level - for the infection which has left over 150 people dead in the western world The health organisation also said it is safe to eat well-cooked pork
No suspected case of swine flu in India: Govt
WHO appealed to the people across the world to follow a few precautions
DOs
Wash your hands
Avoid crowded places
Stay more than one arm's length distance from persons sick with flu
Get plenty of sleep
Drink plenty of water and eat nutritious food
DO NOTs
Shake hands or hug in greeting
Spit in public
Take medicines without consulting a physician
If you are sick, PLEASE
Stay home and limit contact with others as much as possible
Rest and take plenty of liquids
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
Seek medical advice if needed
WHO said it is safe to eat well-cooked pork
No suspected case of swine flu in India: Govt
WHO appealed to the people across the world to follow a few precautions
DOs
Wash your hands
Avoid crowded places
Stay more than one arm's length distance from persons sick with flu
Get plenty of sleep
Drink plenty of water and eat nutritious food
DO NOTs
Shake hands or hug in greeting
Spit in public
Take medicines without consulting a physician
If you are sick, PLEASE
Stay home and limit contact with others as much as possible
Rest and take plenty of liquids
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
Seek medical advice if needed
WHO said it is safe to eat well-cooked pork
Influenza H1N1 List of State Nodal Officers and contact details of Control Room
Influenza H1N1
List of State Nodal Officers and contact details of Control Room
STATE CONTROL ROOM (ADD. & CONTACT) NODAL OFFICER
ANDHRA PRADESH Office of The Addl. Director (Health Services), Hyderabad.
040-24656852(T) [24x7] Dr Ramswarup
[09989923781]
ARUNACHAL PRADESH SSU IDSP, Directorate of Health Services, Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh.
Tel: 0360-2245460
Telefax:: 0360-2244271
(During office hours) Dr.L.Jampa
[09436055743]
[24x7]
ASSAM Office of the Director (Health Services), Guwahati.
0361-2235577
0361-2261630
0361-2261089
[24x7] Dr Doley
0361-2642008
09854066560
BIHAR Office of the Executive Director,
State Health Society, Sheikhpura, Patna.
0612-2280562
0612-2281232
0612-2290322(F)
[24x7] Mr. Santosh Mathew (IAS)
Dr D K Gupta (Addl.Nodal officer)- 09430057795
Control Room In-charge (Dr BK Singh: 9470003023)
CHHATISHGARH State Surveillance Unit (IDSP),
Directorate Health services,
Old Nurses Hostel, DKS Mantralya
Campus,Raipur
0771-2220011
[24x7] Dr T K Agarwal (Deputy Director, Epidemic)-Nodal officer: 09926624162
Dr S N M Murti (Addl.N.O)
09425564418
GUJARAT Office of Dy.Director (Epid)
Commisionerate of Health Services Block No:5, Dr.Jivaraj Mehta Bhawan, Old Sachivalaya , Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Tel: 079-23253334
Fax: 079-23250818
[24X7] Dr.S.J.Gandhi
[09825342899]
GOA Call Centre: 0832- 2458458
[24X7] Dr.Tamba (09822123801)
HIMACHAL PRADESH IDSP Cell, Directorate of Health Services, Kasumti, Shimla-9
Tel/Fax: 0177-2628046
[ during office hours] Dr.Vinod Mehta(09418163500)
[24x7]
HARYANA Office of the Director (Health Services),Sector-6, Panchkula
0172-2587346
[During office hours] Dr.Aparajita Sondh (Nodal Officer)
09417931024
[24x7]
JAMMU-KASHMIR Office of DHS, Srinagar, J& K
Tel/Fax. No (0194) 2452697 (main)
2452052,2454706,2430141
(24x7)
Dr.M.Ahmed (09419012355)
Dr.Bashir Ahmed Dar (Addl.N.O) (09419017716)
JHARKHAND RIMS, RANCHI
Chamber of Dr. A. K. Mathur (HOD Medicine)
(09431176496)
(RIMS acting as Control Room) Dr C.B Sharma (094311740820
Dr.Pradeep Baski
(09431102461)
KERALA Office of Addl.DHS (Public Health),
Near Govt. General Hospital Trivandrum
TF:(0471) 2466828
[24X7]
Dr. Amar
09447451846
DR. SHAUKAT ALI (Joint Director,NICD)-09447702444
Dr K K Mohammad-09447327569
KARNATAKA Office of the Director (Health and Family Welfare),Anand Rao Circle, Bangalore-9
Phone no: 080-1056
[24X7] Dr.Chelluraj
09901060584
Dr.Vasudev Murthi
09880024329
MAHARASHTRA
Mumbai Room no.137,First Floor,
Swasthaya Bhawan,Mumbai.
022-22029070
022-22025830
[24X7] Dr. Gawande
(09420711426)
Dr Awate-09423337556
Pune Office of the Joint Director (Health Services), Central Building , Pune
020-26124299
[24X7]
Dr. Desai-09822429266
Dr. Suresh Bohatre
09881364656
MEGHALAYA Office of DHS, Medical Institutions
Nokrek Bldg. 3rd Secretariat,
Shillong, Meghalaya TF:(0364)2506498
[Office hour only]
Control room no 0364-2505842
Civil hospital
Shilling
[24x7]
Dr.R.R.Lanong,
(09436102763)
MANIPUR Medical Directorate, Office of DHS, Manipur
Room no-23
Lamphelpat
Manipur-795004
0385-2411668
(9am-6pm) Dr Bhubon Chandra
[09436021607]
MADHYA PRADESH State Surveillance Unit, Directorate Health Services, Satpura Bhavan, Bhopal
0755-4094192(TF)
[Office hours only] Dr. B N Chauhan
09826282249
MIZORAM Civil hospital
Aizwal
0389-2322318
102 Dr Sangawalar
0389-2313721
NAGALAND SSU IDSP, Directorate of Health Services& FW, T.R .Hill, KOHIMA-797001.
Tel:(0370)2245016
[Office hours only] Dr.Kebichusa
(09436000463)
[24x7]
ORISSA State Surveillance Unit, Director of Health Services, Heads of the Department Buildings, Bhubaneshwar.
0674-2390466 (TF)
[24x7] Dr. V. Patnaik
0674-2390466
PUNJAB Pariwar Kalyan Bhawan,
Sector-34A, Chandigarh.
Tel:(0172) 2621506
Dr. Deepak Bhatia
09814302403 [24x7]
0172-2621506(0)/0172-2620234(Fax)
RAJASTHAN Office of the Director (Public Health), Swasthaya Bhawan, Jaipur.
0141-2225624
0141-2224831(F)
[ Mr. R K Meena ,IAS, Principal Sect.(Health)- Nodal Officer
Dr. O P Gupta(Addl.Nodal Officer)-0141-2229858 09829333936
SIKKIM SSU IDSP, Health & F.W.
Govt. of Sikkim
03592-204199
[Office hours only] Dr.Y.D.Chingappa
(09832079576)
Tel:(03592)204199
TRIPURA DHS building
PN Building
Gurkha Basti
Agartala
Tel/Fax:(0381) 2215879 Dr P Chatterjee (09436120711)
Dr.R.K. Dhar
(09436137652)
TAMILNADU Office of the Director (Public Health &Preventive Medicine),
Central Malaria Laboratory,
359,Annasalai,Chennai-6
044-24321569 (TF)
[24X7] DR. Elango, DHS,
(09940610123)
UTTARAKHAND Office of DHS, IDSP,
107,Chander Nagar, Dehradun
TF: 0135-2721792
0135-2729897
[Office Hours only] Dr.Pankaj Jain(09412969502)
[24x7]
UTTAR PRADESH Swasthaya Bhawan,Luknow
Control Room No-Tel:(0522)2616482
Fax:(0522)2622819
[24X7]
Dr Pyaremohan Srivastava
0522-2629106(TF)
(09415181629)
WEST BENGAL Chamber of Joint Director (Health Services), Swasthaya Bhawan,
Sector-5,GN Block, Kolkata-91
(033)-23571192
[ 10 am to 7 pm on working days]
[11 am to 4:30 pm on Saturday and Holidays] Dr.Bhaskar Bhattacharya,
Jt.DHS
033-23330180
(09831187818)
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR G.B.Pant Hospital, Port Blair
Tel:03192-230622,233473 Dr.Abhijit Roy,Dy.Director (H) (09474269315)
T/F: (03192-232797)
CHANDIGARH Govt. Multispecialty Hospital,
Sector-16, Chandigarh.
Call Centre:102
Tel:(0172) 2700255 Mr. H.C. Gera
(09988212139)
(0172)-2740408
DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI Office of DHS, Silvassa.
T/F (0260)2642061,2641759
CONTROL ROOM NO- 0260-2642120 Dr.L.M.Patra DHS
(09426117593)
DAMAN AND DIU CHC, Daman.
Tel:(0260)2230080
Fax:(0260)2230570
[24x7] Dr.B.Hansraj (Daman)
(09825142600)
Dr.Das (Silvassa)
Tel:0260-2642961,26422120
DELHI DHS Office
Tel:22307145
(24X7) Dr.R.P.Vashist
(09212222456)/22305657(O),23646049(O),23646173(F)
LAKSHADWEEP Office of DHS,
Tel:(04896)262316
[Office hours only]
Dr.K P Hamza Koya (DHS)-Nodal officer(09496429027,04896-262113)
04896-262089,04896-262209(F)
Dr K. Attakoya (Addl.Nodal officer)-04896-262109,262317
PUDUCHERRY Call Centre:(24X7)
Tel: (0413)1070
(0413)1077 Dr.G.S.Naidu (09443729783)
Tel:(0413)2249357
List of State Nodal Officers and contact details of Control Room
STATE CONTROL ROOM (ADD. & CONTACT) NODAL OFFICER
ANDHRA PRADESH Office of The Addl. Director (Health Services), Hyderabad.
040-24656852(T) [24x7] Dr Ramswarup
[09989923781]
ARUNACHAL PRADESH SSU IDSP, Directorate of Health Services, Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh.
Tel: 0360-2245460
Telefax:: 0360-2244271
(During office hours) Dr.L.Jampa
[09436055743]
[24x7]
ASSAM Office of the Director (Health Services), Guwahati.
0361-2235577
0361-2261630
0361-2261089
[24x7] Dr Doley
0361-2642008
09854066560
BIHAR Office of the Executive Director,
State Health Society, Sheikhpura, Patna.
0612-2280562
0612-2281232
0612-2290322(F)
[24x7] Mr. Santosh Mathew (IAS)
Dr D K Gupta (Addl.Nodal officer)- 09430057795
Control Room In-charge (Dr BK Singh: 9470003023)
CHHATISHGARH State Surveillance Unit (IDSP),
Directorate Health services,
Old Nurses Hostel, DKS Mantralya
Campus,Raipur
0771-2220011
[24x7] Dr T K Agarwal (Deputy Director, Epidemic)-Nodal officer: 09926624162
Dr S N M Murti (Addl.N.O)
09425564418
GUJARAT Office of Dy.Director (Epid)
Commisionerate of Health Services Block No:5, Dr.Jivaraj Mehta Bhawan, Old Sachivalaya , Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Tel: 079-23253334
Fax: 079-23250818
[24X7] Dr.S.J.Gandhi
[09825342899]
GOA Call Centre: 0832- 2458458
[24X7] Dr.Tamba (09822123801)
HIMACHAL PRADESH IDSP Cell, Directorate of Health Services, Kasumti, Shimla-9
Tel/Fax: 0177-2628046
[ during office hours] Dr.Vinod Mehta(09418163500)
[24x7]
HARYANA Office of the Director (Health Services),Sector-6, Panchkula
0172-2587346
[During office hours] Dr.Aparajita Sondh (Nodal Officer)
09417931024
[24x7]
JAMMU-KASHMIR Office of DHS, Srinagar, J& K
Tel/Fax. No (0194) 2452697 (main)
2452052,2454706,2430141
(24x7)
Dr.M.Ahmed (09419012355)
Dr.Bashir Ahmed Dar (Addl.N.O) (09419017716)
JHARKHAND RIMS, RANCHI
Chamber of Dr. A. K. Mathur (HOD Medicine)
(09431176496)
(RIMS acting as Control Room) Dr C.B Sharma (094311740820
Dr.Pradeep Baski
(09431102461)
KERALA Office of Addl.DHS (Public Health),
Near Govt. General Hospital Trivandrum
TF:(0471) 2466828
[24X7]
Dr. Amar
09447451846
DR. SHAUKAT ALI (Joint Director,NICD)-09447702444
Dr K K Mohammad-09447327569
KARNATAKA Office of the Director (Health and Family Welfare),Anand Rao Circle, Bangalore-9
Phone no: 080-1056
[24X7] Dr.Chelluraj
09901060584
Dr.Vasudev Murthi
09880024329
MAHARASHTRA
Mumbai Room no.137,First Floor,
Swasthaya Bhawan,Mumbai.
022-22029070
022-22025830
[24X7] Dr. Gawande
(09420711426)
Dr Awate-09423337556
Pune Office of the Joint Director (Health Services), Central Building , Pune
020-26124299
[24X7]
Dr. Desai-09822429266
Dr. Suresh Bohatre
09881364656
MEGHALAYA Office of DHS, Medical Institutions
Nokrek Bldg. 3rd Secretariat,
Shillong, Meghalaya TF:(0364)2506498
[Office hour only]
Control room no 0364-2505842
Civil hospital
Shilling
[24x7]
Dr.R.R.Lanong,
(09436102763)
MANIPUR Medical Directorate, Office of DHS, Manipur
Room no-23
Lamphelpat
Manipur-795004
0385-2411668
(9am-6pm) Dr Bhubon Chandra
[09436021607]
MADHYA PRADESH State Surveillance Unit, Directorate Health Services, Satpura Bhavan, Bhopal
0755-4094192(TF)
[Office hours only] Dr. B N Chauhan
09826282249
MIZORAM Civil hospital
Aizwal
0389-2322318
102 Dr Sangawalar
0389-2313721
NAGALAND SSU IDSP, Directorate of Health Services& FW, T.R .Hill, KOHIMA-797001.
Tel:(0370)2245016
[Office hours only] Dr.Kebichusa
(09436000463)
[24x7]
ORISSA State Surveillance Unit, Director of Health Services, Heads of the Department Buildings, Bhubaneshwar.
0674-2390466 (TF)
[24x7] Dr. V. Patnaik
0674-2390466
PUNJAB Pariwar Kalyan Bhawan,
Sector-34A, Chandigarh.
Tel:(0172) 2621506
Dr. Deepak Bhatia
09814302403 [24x7]
0172-2621506(0)/0172-2620234(Fax)
RAJASTHAN Office of the Director (Public Health), Swasthaya Bhawan, Jaipur.
0141-2225624
0141-2224831(F)
[ Mr. R K Meena ,IAS, Principal Sect.(Health)- Nodal Officer
Dr. O P Gupta(Addl.Nodal Officer)-0141-2229858 09829333936
SIKKIM SSU IDSP, Health & F.W.
Govt. of Sikkim
03592-204199
[Office hours only] Dr.Y.D.Chingappa
(09832079576)
Tel:(03592)204199
TRIPURA DHS building
PN Building
Gurkha Basti
Agartala
Tel/Fax:(0381) 2215879 Dr P Chatterjee (09436120711)
Dr.R.K. Dhar
(09436137652)
TAMILNADU Office of the Director (Public Health &Preventive Medicine),
Central Malaria Laboratory,
359,Annasalai,Chennai-6
044-24321569 (TF)
[24X7] DR. Elango, DHS,
(09940610123)
UTTARAKHAND Office of DHS, IDSP,
107,Chander Nagar, Dehradun
TF: 0135-2721792
0135-2729897
[Office Hours only] Dr.Pankaj Jain(09412969502)
[24x7]
UTTAR PRADESH Swasthaya Bhawan,Luknow
Control Room No-Tel:(0522)2616482
Fax:(0522)2622819
[24X7]
Dr Pyaremohan Srivastava
0522-2629106(TF)
(09415181629)
WEST BENGAL Chamber of Joint Director (Health Services), Swasthaya Bhawan,
Sector-5,GN Block, Kolkata-91
(033)-23571192
[ 10 am to 7 pm on working days]
[11 am to 4:30 pm on Saturday and Holidays] Dr.Bhaskar Bhattacharya,
Jt.DHS
033-23330180
(09831187818)
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR G.B.Pant Hospital, Port Blair
Tel:03192-230622,233473 Dr.Abhijit Roy,Dy.Director (H) (09474269315)
T/F: (03192-232797)
CHANDIGARH Govt. Multispecialty Hospital,
Sector-16, Chandigarh.
Call Centre:102
Tel:(0172) 2700255 Mr. H.C. Gera
(09988212139)
(0172)-2740408
DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI Office of DHS, Silvassa.
T/F (0260)2642061,2641759
CONTROL ROOM NO- 0260-2642120 Dr.L.M.Patra DHS
(09426117593)
DAMAN AND DIU CHC, Daman.
Tel:(0260)2230080
Fax:(0260)2230570
[24x7] Dr.B.Hansraj (Daman)
(09825142600)
Dr.Das (Silvassa)
Tel:0260-2642961,26422120
DELHI DHS Office
Tel:22307145
(24X7) Dr.R.P.Vashist
(09212222456)/22305657(O),23646049(O),23646173(F)
LAKSHADWEEP Office of DHS,
Tel:(04896)262316
[Office hours only]
Dr.K P Hamza Koya (DHS)-Nodal officer(09496429027,04896-262113)
04896-262089,04896-262209(F)
Dr K. Attakoya (Addl.Nodal officer)-04896-262109,262317
PUDUCHERRY Call Centre:(24X7)
Tel: (0413)1070
(0413)1077 Dr.G.S.Naidu (09443729783)
Tel:(0413)2249357
List of Influenza A H1N1 affected countries as on 16.6.2009
S.No Name of the Country
1. Argentina
2. Australia
3. Austria
4. Bahamas
5. Bahrain
6. Barbados
7. Belgium
8. Bolivia
9. Brazil
10. Bulgaria
11. Canada
12. Cayman Islands, UKOT
13. Chile
14. China
15. Colombia
16. Costa Rica
17. Cuba
18. Cyprus
19. Czech Republic
20. Denmark
21. Dominica
22. Dominican Republic
23. Ecuador
24. Egypt
25. El Salvador
26. Estonia
27. Finland
28. France
29. Germany
30. Greece
31. Guatemala
32. Honduras
33. Hungary
34. Iceland
35. India
36. Ireland
37. Israel
38. Italy
39. Jamaica
40. Japan
41. Korea, Republic of
42. Kuwait
43. Lebanon
44. Luxembourg
45. Malaysia
46. Mexico
47. Netherlands
48. New Zealand
49. Nicaragua
50. Norway
51. Panama
52. Paraguay
53. Peru
54. Philippines
55. Poland
56. Portugal
57. Romania
58. Russia
59. Saudi Arabia
60. Singapore
61. Slovakia
62. Spain
63. Sweden
64. Switzerland
65. Thailand
66. Trinidad and Tobago
67. Turkey
68. Ukraine
69. United Arab Emirates
70. United Kingdom
71. United States of America
72. Uruguay
73. Venezuela
74. Viet Nam
75. West Bank and Gaza Strip
1. Argentina
2. Australia
3. Austria
4. Bahamas
5. Bahrain
6. Barbados
7. Belgium
8. Bolivia
9. Brazil
10. Bulgaria
11. Canada
12. Cayman Islands, UKOT
13. Chile
14. China
15. Colombia
16. Costa Rica
17. Cuba
18. Cyprus
19. Czech Republic
20. Denmark
21. Dominica
22. Dominican Republic
23. Ecuador
24. Egypt
25. El Salvador
26. Estonia
27. Finland
28. France
29. Germany
30. Greece
31. Guatemala
32. Honduras
33. Hungary
34. Iceland
35. India
36. Ireland
37. Israel
38. Italy
39. Jamaica
40. Japan
41. Korea, Republic of
42. Kuwait
43. Lebanon
44. Luxembourg
45. Malaysia
46. Mexico
47. Netherlands
48. New Zealand
49. Nicaragua
50. Norway
51. Panama
52. Paraguay
53. Peru
54. Philippines
55. Poland
56. Portugal
57. Romania
58. Russia
59. Saudi Arabia
60. Singapore
61. Slovakia
62. Spain
63. Sweden
64. Switzerland
65. Thailand
66. Trinidad and Tobago
67. Turkey
68. Ukraine
69. United Arab Emirates
70. United Kingdom
71. United States of America
72. Uruguay
73. Venezuela
74. Viet Nam
75. West Bank and Gaza Strip
GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOLS/COLLEGES/INSTITUTIONS ON INFLUENZA A/H1N1
There have been some cases of Influenza A H1N1 virus among students and staff in certain schools, primarily in Delhi and Maharashtra. There has been considerable speculation over the need for closure of schools to control the outbreak. This matter has been considered by the Joint Monitoring Group in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. All schools and colleges are advised to observe the following guidelines for managing cases of infection of Influenza AH1N1.
(i) Any student or staff member showing flu like symptoms such as fever, cough, running nose and difficulty in breathing should be allowed to stay at home for a period of 7 to 10 days.
(ii) Educational institutions should not insist on production of medical certificate by the student/staff.
(iii) Educational institutions should monitor the health status of such students/staff who might have come in contact with a suspected case of Influenza AH1N1 to see whether they develop flu like symptoms. In case they do so, they should be allowed to stay home, as outlined at (i) above
(iv) In case of students staying in Hostels, the educational institutions would not only monitor the health status of the students, but also that of care providers. It has to be ensured that the care providers wear face mask and wash hands regularly. It might not be advisable to send the boarders back to home, as it would spread infection further.
(v) Educational institutions are further encouraged to report such cases to local health officers for further monitoring.
(vi) Given the current magnitude of the spread of AH1N1 infection and the fact that the current virus is fairly mild, closure of educational institutions on account of any student/staff member falling ill with flu like symptoms is not recommended.
(vii) In the first place, the schools should discourage the excursions of the students to the affected countries.
(viii) In case if the students had proceeded to affected countries on unavoidable tours, then on their return, if some students show flu like symptoms of fever, sore- throat , cough , body ache, running nose, difficulty breathing etc. they should be advised to abstain from attending school and be allowed to stay at home for a period of 7 to 10 days.
(i) Any student or staff member showing flu like symptoms such as fever, cough, running nose and difficulty in breathing should be allowed to stay at home for a period of 7 to 10 days.
(ii) Educational institutions should not insist on production of medical certificate by the student/staff.
(iii) Educational institutions should monitor the health status of such students/staff who might have come in contact with a suspected case of Influenza AH1N1 to see whether they develop flu like symptoms. In case they do so, they should be allowed to stay home, as outlined at (i) above
(iv) In case of students staying in Hostels, the educational institutions would not only monitor the health status of the students, but also that of care providers. It has to be ensured that the care providers wear face mask and wash hands regularly. It might not be advisable to send the boarders back to home, as it would spread infection further.
(v) Educational institutions are further encouraged to report such cases to local health officers for further monitoring.
(vi) Given the current magnitude of the spread of AH1N1 infection and the fact that the current virus is fairly mild, closure of educational institutions on account of any student/staff member falling ill with flu like symptoms is not recommended.
(vii) In the first place, the schools should discourage the excursions of the students to the affected countries.
(viii) In case if the students had proceeded to affected countries on unavoidable tours, then on their return, if some students show flu like symptoms of fever, sore- throat , cough , body ache, running nose, difficulty breathing etc. they should be advised to abstain from attending school and be allowed to stay at home for a period of 7 to 10 days.
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