Centre issues fresh guidelines on swine flu

With a surge in the number of swine flu cases, the Centre issued fresh guidelines to states asking them to increase the designated hospitals for treatment besides allowing private hospitals to treat patients and setting up helplines to provide information.

With a surge in the number of swine flu cases, the Centre on Friday issued fresh guidelines to states asking them to increase the designated hospitals for treatment besides allowing private hospitals to treat patients and setting up helplines to provide information.

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In a letter to the Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories, Health Secretary Naresh Dayal said it is necessary to identify more hospitals for examination and collection of samples of suspect cases of swine flu.

He asked the states to operationalise helplines where people can call up to seek information or report outbreaks.

Dayal also asked state governments to increase the number of hospitals designated for treatment of positive cases of swine flu and allow private hospitals to treat such patients.

"It, however, needs to be ensured that such hospitals have appropriate isolation facilities and the requisite stock of Personal Protective Equipments (PPE)," Dayal said in the letter.

He also assured the states that the Centre will increase the supply of PPEs. More than 600 people have been afflicted with the disease across the country till now.