Health Dept issues advisory to schools, colleges on swine flu

BATHINDA: Taking cognisance of the fact that there has been a rise in cases of Influenza A H1N1 virus among students and staff in certain schools at Delhi and Maharashtra, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued guidelines for schools, colleges and other educational institutions to contain and manage cases of Influenza A H1N1.

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 26

Taking cognisance of the fact that there has been a rise in cases of Influenza A H1N1 virus among students and staff in certain schools at Delhi and Maharashtra, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued guidelines for schools, colleges and other educational institutions to contain and manage cases of Influenza A H1N1.

The Ministry has directed schools and colleges to create awareness among students regarding the swine flu and any student or staff member showing symptoms, including fever, cold, running nose and having difficulty in breathing should be allowed to stay at home for seven to 10 days. The institutes should not insist for medical certificates.

Swine flu known as Influenza A (H1N1) is a respiratory infection, which can be fatal if untreated.

Moroever, the institutes should also monitor the health status of a student or staff member who might have come in contact with a suspected case.

The directions also mention that in case of students staying in hostels, institutes would not only monitor the health status of students but also of care providers. It has to be ensured that care provider wears face mask and washes hands regularly. It might not be advisable to send the boarders back to home as it would spread the infection even further.

They have also been directed to report such cases to the district health officer and have been advised to discourage students to go on excursions to the affected countries.

Advising students to wash their hands frequently and teaching them right way to cough and sneeze, not to touch eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands are among dos and don’ts.

Create awareness among students

The Ministry has directed schools and colleges to create awareness among students regarding the swine flu and any student or staff member showing symptoms, including fever, cold, running nose and having difficulty in breathing should be allowed to stay at home for seven to 10 days.
Swine flu known as Influenza A (H1N1) is a respiratory infection, which can be fatal if untreated.