Sphere India Unified Response Strategy
SITUATION REPORT
May 6th 2009
Part 1: Situation Report:
Global Scenario:
World Health Organization has reported 985 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza
A/H1N1 infection (Swine Flu) with 26 deaths from twenty countries. There are 226 laboratory confirmed human cases in USA with one death. Mexico has reported 590 cases including 25 deaths. The other countries which have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths are: Austria (1), Canada (85), Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) (1), Costa Rica (1) Columbia (1) Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (2), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (3), Italy (1), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (4), Republic of Korea (1) Spain (40), Switzerland (1) and United Kingdom (15).
Indian Scenario:
As of now, no case has been reported in India. The situation is being monitored. Cabinet Secretary held a video conference with Chief Secretaries of 17 States and reviewed the preparedness of the States. Director General of Health Services held a meeting with Director of Health Services of States/ Union Territories and discussed technical aspects including surveillance at Airports, ports and community; laboratory support; sample collection and transportation, clinical management, risk communication etc.
What is Swine Flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by Type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person.
The swine flu is likely a descendant of the Spanish flu that caused a devastating pandemic in humans in 1918–1919.Descendants of this virus have persisted in pigs; they probably circulated in humans until the appearance of the Asian flu in 1957, and re-emerged in 1976. Direct transmission from pigs to humans is rare, with 12 cases in the U.S. since 2005.
Human Deaths:
According to the WHO Reports, as of May 5th, 2009, 1490 cases were identified and 30 deaths were reported.
Map of Global Cases of Swine Flu:
Message from the UN Secretary General:
“The swine flu outbreak shows yet again that, in our interconnected world, no nation can deal with threats of such dimension on its own. Global solidarity is critical if a pandemic of swine flu is indeed imminent,” Mr. Ban Ki-moon said, stressing that it is the first test of the pandemic preparedness work the community of nations has been undertaking in the past three years.
Announcing that the World Bank and other UN development and humanitarian agencies will provide funding to countries needing additional resources to combat an epidemic, Mr. Ban declared that the poorer nations must not be hit disproportionately hard by a potential health crisis.
Part 2: Response By The Indian Government:
Health screening of passengers coming from affected countries is continuing in 21 International airports at Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Varanasi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Srinagar, Trichy and Trivandrum. A total of 41,498 passengers have been screened. Around 8353 passengers were from affected countries. 172 doctors and 82 paramedics have been deployed to man 61 counters at the above airports. Four passengers have been referred to identified health facility (two at Delhi and two at Cochin). So far a total of 12 samples have been tested negative. Three samples are under test.
The government on Thursday said there was no case of suspected swine flu in the country, even as it decided to upscale its stockpile of medicines from one million to 10 million doses. The States were advised to review their preparedness to investigate and contain suspected clusters of influenza-like illness. The stockpile of medicines would be decentralised strategically and located in every State, along with protective equipment, Vineet Chowdhry, Joint Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Ministry, told journalists here.
Supplies of capsules, personal protective equipment, N-95 masks and three-layered surgical masks were decentralised and kept at the Ministry’s Regional Directors’ offices located in 19 cities.
On the World Health Organisation raising the pandemic alert from phase IV to V, implying that containing the disease was not an option any more, Mr. Chowdhry said it was still an option for India as no case had been reported in the country so far.
The H1N1 flu hasn't surfaced in India so far. But 18 suspected cases have been reported and over 8,353 passengers from affected areas have entered India. So far, the government has said that it is ready. But on the ground is India's health infrastructure prepared?
As a reality check, four days after the first suspected cases in India, hospitals are still being identified in 17 cities. Also, anti-viral stocks will take another four days to arrive and there are only, which are testing samples.
The only visible step taken so far is screening at 21 airports. However, land checkpoints are still not watching out for patients with flu symptoms. The WHO has said that it is already too late to stop the first wave; now the focus must be on treatment.
Each state is identifying one or more hospital in each city with an airport," said Vineet Chowdhry, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
After the bird flu outbreak the government put in place a pandemic preparedness plan, but it is still taking far too long to get off the ground.
If the government wants to check the swine flu incident, there is a greater need to strengthen public health infrastructure to deal with the rising number of cases.
Indian Humanitarian Agencies Preparedness:
The humanitarian agencies in India are keeping a close watch on the developments, through information sharing and interface with the government.
Part 3: Individual Preparedness Tips:
The Red Cross and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are offering the following tips to ensure you stay healthy and that you are prepared for Swine Flu Outbreak:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective when soap and water aren’t available.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Influenza (flu) is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing.
- If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Consult your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms of the flu, such as:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Headache
- Chills
- Extreme tiredness
What should you do if you need medical attention?
- Contact your doctor or healthcare provider before travelling to a health facility, and report your symptoms. Explain why you think you have influenza A(H1N1) (if you have recently travelled to a country where there is an outbreak in humans). Follow the advice given to you.
- If it is not possible to contact your healthcare provider in advance, communicate your suspicion of infection as soon as you arrive at the facility.
- Cover your nose and mouth during travel.
Sources:
American Red Cross, Red Cross urges Preparedness during Swine Flu Outbreak. Available at:
Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2009/apr/26/swine-flu-outbreak-mexico-pandemic
International SOS
Available at: http://www.internationalsos.com/pandemicpreparedness/
National Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM) Disasters Update, Issue No. 1412. Dated May 5, 2009. Available at: www.nidm.net
NDTV, ‘Swine Flu Outbreak: Is India Prepared?’ By Mohuya Chaudhuri. Dated May 4, 2009. Available at: http://www.ndtv.com/news/world/swine_flu_outbreak_is_india_prepared.php
NickThrolson, 2009 ‘Swine Flu (H1N1) Outbreak Map.’
Available at: http://nickthrolson.com/2009-swine-flu-h1n1-outbreak-map/
Swine Flu (Swine Influenza News)
Available at: http://www.swineflu.co.in/
The Hindu, ‘No Case of Swine Flu in India.’ By Aarti Dhar. Dated May 1, 2009. Available at: http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/01/stories/2009050160151200.htm
UN News Centre, ‘International unity key to tackling swine flu threat.’ Dated April 27, 2009. Available at: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30609&Cr=virus&Cr1
WHO - Epidemic & Pandemic Alert and Response
Available at: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/what/en/index.html
Contacts:
S.No. | Name | Designation | Mobile No. | |
1 | Mr. Vikas Gora | Focal Point, Unified Response Strategy | (0)9958699913 |
Sphere India Secretariat, New Delhi (May 6, 2009) |Page