CHENNAI:In its effort to check the spread of infectious diseases, including swine flu and dengue, the State government has constituted three special medical teams to train private doctors to combat the diseases throughout the State.
The teams have been trained in epidemiology at centres for disease control in Bangalore and Hyderabad, said sources. On Tuesday, the health department convened a review meeting chaired by Health Minister, C Vijaya Baskar, who, speaking on the measures taken to control dengue in Tamil Nadu, said, “Rapid Response Teams which function at regional levels have been constituted to check dengue. Sixty testing centers have been formed to identify dengue cases through ELISA method.” (ELISA is an acronym for Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - a test that uses antibodies and colour change to identify a virus.)
Also special wards have been created to treat persons infected with swine flu in Communicable Diseases Hospital in Tondiarpet and in all medical colleges and district hospitals, he said. About 7,000 sets of protective gear have been provided to doctors and medical staff who are caring for these patients, he added.
“Six special laboratories are operational in the State apart from 13 private labs to identify swine flu cases. Moreover, four lakh Tamiflu tablets have been distributed to all government hospitals in the State,” he said.
Apart from this, people visiting Tamil Nadu from other States are being screened at counters that have been opened in airports, railway stations and prominent bus terminuses.
In addition, measures are being taken to prevent the sale of medicine without a proper prescription and to reduce the influence of quack doctors in the State. The State government has also sought the cooperation of the general public, private organisations and NGOs in making the State 100 percent disease free.
Baskar claimed that diseases like dengue and swine flu are under control in Tamil Nadu because of the several precautionary measures taken by the government with multi-pronged action to raise awareness among the people.
The general public seeking medical advice on dengue and swine flu can do so by calling any of the following numbers,round the clock: 044-2435 0496, 044-2433 4811 and 9444 340 496.