The State health department has started preparing itself to combat the spread of swine flu. On Friday, a high level meeting was held at health directorate to review preparation on the disease. In the meeting, senior officials of the health department and the district surveillance officers of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), epidemiologists and micro biologists took part. Speaking on the occasion, the director medical health, Dr Tripti Bahuguna said that H1 N1 is on the path of becoming a major health issue in the state. She directed that all the preparations to combat the disease in advance should be taken, the necessary stocks of medicines should be maintained and isolation wards in all the hospitals should be set up. The mission director of National Health Mission (NHM), Dr Anjali Nautiyal said that the swine flu spreads by the human influenza (H1N1) virus and its spreads by sneezing and coughing. She added that awareness campaign should be undertaken to inform people about the preventive measures for the disease. Dr Nautiyal said that special care of the elderly and those suffering from other diseases should be taken so that they are prevented from falling prey to the disease. On a stern note she said that a death audit of the suspected deaths should be undertaken so that there is no confusion on cause of death. The audit would also help in preventing panic in public. The state nodal officer of IDSP, Dr Pankaj Singh held an elaborate account on prevention, control and management of the H1NI in the society. He trained the district level officers about the various parameters of the disease.

The participants were told that the swine flu patients are divided into three categories and patients of only the third category 'C', should be isolated, hospitalized, should be administered Tami flu and are needed to be tested for swine flu.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Dehradun, Dr Meenakshi Joshi, additional director Dr Suman Arya and others.