Punjab health minister reviews respiratory illness situation, directs setting up of flu corners
PTC News Desk: With winter approaching and cases of respiratory illnesses on the rise, Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh took stock of the situation on Friday and outlined steps for prevention and control.
He directed the state health department to issue a detailed advisory on influenza-like illness (ILI) prevention and control.
According to an official statement issued, Singh also directed all civil surgeons to establish flu corners in every hospital's outpatient department (OPD).
He directed them to ensure that trained medical professionals were stationed in these areas.
In addition, all hospitals have been directed to establish isolation wards with adequate logistics and oxygen supply.
The minister also emphasised the importance of raising awareness about respiratory etiquette for people with ILI in order to limit the spread of this highly infectious disease.
“Influenza A H1N1/H3N2 is a notified disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act in Punjab and notification has already been issued in this regard,” he said.
He also directed that this notification be distributed to all government and private hospitals in the state and that all suspected and confirmed cases be reported.
"It should be ensured that all ILI patients reporting to medical institutions are classified, and if they are COVID negative and have symptoms, Swine Flu (H1N1) should be kept as a differential diagnosis and necessary testing should be performed," he added.
Singh urged people to take precautions to protect themselves from seasonal diseases.
- With inputs from agencies
