KOTTAYAM: In the wake of the Union Health Department confirming the spread of bird flu in Kottayam and Alappuzha districts due to H5N1 virus which is fatal to human beings, a medical team from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) led by Dr Agarwal, visited the Medical College Hospital and District Hospital here on Thursday. The medical team also reviewed the preparations here to combat the disease.
The Central team consisted of Infectious Diseases expert Dr Naveen Gupta and medical specialist Desh Deepak. The team also visited the three persons admitted in the District Hospital following uneasiness, who were part of the culling operations of the virus infected birds. Their health condition is being monitored and blood samples have been collected by the team for further investigation. They also offered training for the hospital staff for collecting blood samples of the affected persons. Meanwhile, sources close to the district medical office said that the hospitalised persons will be discharged after observation.
The Central team also gave directions to the district medical officer Dr N M Ayesha Bai, consultant physician at District Hospital Dr Sindhu G Nair and hospital superintendent Dr George S Palamattom regarding the mode of treatment for the H5N1 disease. Though, H5N1 disease has not been confirmed in human beings so far, the Centre has directed the hospital authorities to set up a special ward in the hospital to counter emergencies.
The team also identified a place to set up the ward as well and reviewed the preventive measures initiated by the Health Department.