Centre issues fresh guidelines on swine flu

New Delhi, Aug 7 (PTI) With a surge in the number of
swine flu cases, the Central government 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.

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. PTI SPC
SDE