Give swine flu vaccine to health workers: Govt

Hospitals should vaccinate health workers treating or coming in contact with people with swine flu (H1N1) which has killed 407 and infected 5,157 people since January 1, say new health ministry guidelines.

Hospitals should vaccinate health workers treating or coming in contact with people with swine flu (H1N1) which has killed 407 and infected 5,157 people since January 1, say new health ministry guidelines.

The Centre has also procured an additional 60,000 Oseltamivir medicines and 10,000 N-95 masks to protect health personnel.

The Union health ministry had already dispatched 30,000 tablets to the affected states in January.

“New guidelines on vaccinating health workers and building a stockpile of anti-flu medicine Oseltamivir are being formulated as a measure to exercise abundant precaution,” said a health ministry official who did not wish to be named.

Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana have reported the highest number of swine flu cases.

Union health secretary BP Sharma chaired a meeting that reviewed the situation, including the availability of drugs and diagnostic kits. Additional diagnostic kits will be supplied to the lab network under Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme being used for testing H1N1.

“The National Centre for Disease Control has floated a tender for additional 10,000 diagnostic kits,” he added.