Influenza A H1N1 (Swine flu)
epidemic in Chennai city
The Swine
flu
The
swine flu is caused by a virus Influenza Type A H1N1.
It was identified that the infection came from Swine from
The
symptoms include High fever, running nose, cough, shortness of breathing etc.
Management
of epidemic
The Swine flu is caused by a H1N1 influenza virus
posed a lot of challenges before the Public Health managers in the city.
Following activities are undertaken by the
Corporation of Chennai
a.
Alleviating fear
among the population particularly among schools.
b.
Educating the
medical practitioners
c.
Provision of
diagnostic facilities
d.
Provision of
treatment facilities
e.
Prevention
activities.
Alleviating fear among the population particularly among schools.
The age distribution of infected individuals showed
that most of infection happened among the age group between 4 years and 16
years. Most of they study in schools. More over cluster of cases were diagnosed
in some select schools. This caused concern among the school authorities. Hence
the following activities are undertaken.
a.
Guidelines for
identifying and handling the children with suspected illness and managing them
was sent to all the schools
b.
All the school head
masters, principles from corporation, private and government schools were
sensitized about the infections. They were oriented to identifying suspected symptoms.
c.
Posters and
pamphlets were developed specific to this epidemic distribution to all those who
attend the classes
d.
Specific
guidelines were read to all the students in the prayer meetings.
e.
Daily press
releases were given to reassure the people.
Help line
A separate Help line was opened by the Chennai Corporation
(1913). Officers were posted round the clock to answer the queries from the
people. Every day more than 300 calls were attended by the officers
Sensitization
of the private practitioners
Corporation of Chennai had called all
the Medical Practitioners through news paper and invitations through the
Sanitary Inspectors. The response to the call was dramatic. In a single day 860
doctors were sensitized about this flu infection. The telephone numbers for
assistance were provided to them.
Provision
of diagnostic services
Initially the testing was done only at National
Institute of Communicable Disease at
Provision
of Treatment services
One of most important component was provision of Treatment
Services. As of now only Oseltemivir is the drug of
choice and it is being provided only by the Government through Regional
Directorate of Health and Family Welfare. The
Contact
tracing
The disease spread through the droplets and fomites.
Most of the droplets gets settled with in one meter of
the index case. Hence Close contacts of
Each of the infected patients was traced to identify the suspected symptomatic. This was a well
coordinated activity among the staff of Public Health Department with support
from Education department for schools.
Flow chart for contact tracing
Once
a patient is admitted in Communicable diseases hospital the address and the
details of the cases are intimated to the respective Asst. Health Officers and
Sanitary inspectors of the respective division if that patient is residing within Chennai Corporation
limits. If they belong to out side of the city the respective Deputy Directors
of the Health services are informed to do contact tracing.
A
detailed epidemiological investigation is being conducted and all the contacts
are being examined for suspected symptoms. If any one is found they are given
antibiotics and samples are sent to laboratory. The specific treatment is given
once the test result is positive for H1N1
Program Management.
The program
management team which consist of The DC(Health), The
Health Officer and Addl. Health Officers was set up. This team reviewed all the
reports and monitored the situation on daily basis. The epidemiological reports
from the field team were analyzed and suitable instruction was given.