The Corporation of Chennai issued a notice to Menangudy Hospital in Shastri Nagar for failing to notify it about a patient suspected to have the H1N1 virus. Earlier all hospitals were asked to report all swine flu cases to the authorities. The total number of cases in Chennai have gone up to 18.The notice was issued under the Public Health Act 1939. Corporation officials said though the hospital had observed that one of their employees had flu-like symptoms on April 5 and sent her throat swab for testing to King Institute, it had not informed the corporation about the case. Two days later, her daughter and nephew tested positive. Officials said the children could have been protected if they had been informed and were more vigilant.
On Tuesday morning, health minister V S Vijay appealed to the public not to panic. “With the ‘effective’ measures adopted by the government, the disease is under control in the state,” he said.
Replying to a special call attention motion moved by the Opposition in the assembly, Vijay said the government had allocated Rs 55 lakh for procurement of vaccines. He said there was an adequate stock of drugs and according to the World Health Organisation, H1N1 was no more a pandemic but a seasonal flu.
Health department officials said another man from Saligramam who had been suffering from a cough and fever for several days tested positive. He is being treated at the Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Hospital.
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