The Tamil Nadu Health Department is in vigil and taking measures to fight the growing menace of Influenza in the state. As children are more susceptible to the flu, doctors are giving instructions in curbing the cases. In the wake of soaring cases, Puducherry has declared a holiday for the schools while Tamil Nadu has affirmed that there is no need to panic. 

On Thursday, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said that 282 people were undergoing treatment for H1N1 influenza in the state. As per the data from the health department, of these 282 people, 215 were in private ones, 54 were getting treated at home, and 13 were admitted at various government hospitals in the state. 

While addressing the reporters after inspecting the fever ward at the Institute of Child Health and Children's Hospital, Ma Subramanian said that Tamil Nadu had recorded 243 cases of Dengue as of Thursday and three deaths since January. The Health Minister conducted the inspection after reports that more fever cases were being reported across the state. 

He further stated that a circular had been sent to government hospitals on managing H1N1 influenza, dengue, and fever cases. Ma Subramanian highlighted that the cases of influenza flu were fewer in the last two years because people wore face masks, followed social distancing, and washed hands frequently. He asserted that there is no need for the public to get panic and that the people who were getting affected by influenza are getting better in three to five days. 

The health minister advised the parents that they should encourage children to cover their noses and mouth while coughing and sneezing so that other children won't contract it as the flu is contagious. By citing that Dengue and H1N1 cases reported in private hospitals and laboratories should be informed to the health department, Ma Subramanian said that the pharmacies across the state are directed not to give tablets for fever without proper prescription. 

Advice from doctors

In the midst of the menace, doctors have given a vital piece of advice that there should be no negligence in following the safety measures as such negligence is a big cause of why the cases are soaring. The doctors have advised that people should avoid taking self-medication at home and they should approach the hospital to have timely medical assistance. 

Several doctors are urging the public, particularly children to wear masks and observe social distancing as such measures would mitigate the spread. The medicos are instructing the public to take extra precautions and noted that wearing masks would be an effective measure to curb the transmission chain of the flu. They are also urging the parents to forgo the self-medication adding that any delay in approaching the hospital would further put their lives at risk. 

Holiday for schools

In the wake of soaring fever cases in the past few weeks, the Puducherry government has announced a week's holiday for students of Classes 1 to 8 across Puducherry and Karaikal. Puducherry Health department had issued a circular to government-run and private schools in Puducherry and Karaikal regions. The department noted that there has been an increase in the number of children who are complaining of fever, cough, and cold. 

The holidays were declared for Classes 1 to 8 from September 17 to September 25 while the students of Classes 9 and 10 will be attending school as usual. In a letter sent to the Director of the School Education, Puducherry's Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services said, "It has been noticed that in the past 10 days, there is at least a 50% spike in fever cases among children attending various health institutions in Puducherry." 

The letter further said, "As a result, there is a substantive increase in the number of children visiting outpatient departments in various hospitals and the number of inpatients in the Rajiv Gandhi Government Women and Children Hospital in Puducherry." "This flu illness spreads when children inhale droplets from infected persons or when they come into direct contact with mucus from patients. Hence, the spread is very high among children attending schools. In these circumstances, the health department requested the government to close down schools temporarily", the letter added.