TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: With the alarming rise in swine flu or H1N1 flu cases across the country, the Congress party on Thursday urged the State government to begin screening passengers, both foreign and domestic, at the Dabolim airport, railway stations and bus terminals, as an immediate precautionary measure.
Goa recorded its first swine flu death, when a 45-year-old passenger who arrived from Hong Kong, a couple of weeks ago, died late Monday night. India has thus far recorded 191 swine flu deaths and 2038 cases were detected in January.
Addressing media persons Thursday evening, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar slammed the BJP government for failing to take any precautionary measures in the State health sector to curb the swine flu menace. “Government has not issued any (health) advisory in this regard. Nor has it issued any directions to hospitals for preparedness to curb the disease,” Kawthankar said, contrary to Directorate of Health Services claim that standing instructions have been issued to all government hospitals including Goa Medical College and Hospital.
Pointing to the large number of swine flu cases detected in the country, Kawthankar urged the government to begin screening of passengers for Swine flu across the airports, railway stations and bus terminals, on priority. “Not just foreign tourists, but domestic tourists also need to be screened,” he said, and demanded that government should start an awareness drive across the State, making people know about this disease and its symptoms.
