Jaipur, August 11: With a rise in the number of swine flu deaths in the country, a central team today visited the isolation ward at the SMS Hospital here to assess preparedness and held meeting with senior doctors and health department officials to review the situation even as the state reported its fifth confirmed case of the pandemic.
The two-member team asked the state government to equip its micro-biology testing lab besides updating bio-safety measures for para-medical staff besides providing all necessary medicines, masks and personal protection equipment, official sources said.
The team was satisfied with the state government’s preparation and facilities being provided to the swine flu suspects and patients, they said, adding that the team assured that there will be no dearth of funds if required.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot held a meeting with concerned officials to monitor the situation and announced a grant of Rs 20 lakh to the SMS Hospital for updating and strengthening its lab where all bacteriological and virology tests could be performed at the earliest, the Principal Secretary Medical and Health R K Meena said.
Of the 33 cases screened in Rajasthan, five have tested positive for the deadly virus while reports of four cases are awaited.
Of the five positive cases, four have already been discharged while a fifth was reported from Ajmer today.
“There is no panic in the state due to swine flu cases but school children are advised to take all precautions,” the sources said.
—Agencies