more-in The Health Department has issued advisories to the public and preventive measures to be followed in keeping public places sterile to combat A (H1N1) influenza. spread in the State. Stating that the current status of A (H1N1) influenza cases in Tamil Nadu was not alarming, Director of Public Health K. Kolandasamy told The Hindu that the public should play a major role to prevent further spread of the virus which is predominant in urban areas. “Public have a larger role to prevent the spread of the influenza by maintaining personal hygiene. People should use of handkerchief while sneezing/coughing, wash hands at frequent intervals and avoid direct contact with infected people. Those who have high grade fever and pharyngitis (swelling in the back of the throat-pharynx-between the tonsils and the voice box -larynx) must seek immediate treatment,” said Dr. Kolandasamy. As per the Health Department advisory, schools have been asked to conduct daily check on those having fever. Students or teachers with flu-like condition should be sent to a doctor. School authorities have been asked to disinfect the class rooms and surfaces like desks and railings before the commencement of the class every day. Cinemas must be disinfected before the commencement of every show. The floor can be cleaned using 1% sodium hypochlorite solution while seats, ticket counters and other surfaces with surgical spirit. Auditoriums, marriage community halls have to be cleaned in the same way. At lodges and hotels, the rooms have to be disinfected before allotting them to the next guest. Floor, table, TV remote, door handles and other surfaces are the areas to be cleaned. Cleaning in public transport involves disinfecting the vehicle particularly the areas touched by hands at the end of every trip. Dr. Kolandasamy said that all the hospitals in the State have been briefed to maintain adequate stock of drug Oseltamivir in capsule and syrup. Hospitals on the Diagnosis facilities have been told to keep enough number of testing kits.

Stay updated with all the Coimbatore Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.