THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the number of influenza-like illness on the rise, the demand for oseltamivir – the antiviral drug for H1N1 is increasing. The district medical office has asked the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) to procure more medicine. According to authorities, the demand for the antiviral drug has exponentially increased at primary health centres and community health centres. So far this year around 7 H1N1 deaths has happened in the state.
A top official of the district medical office here said that there is a steady rise in the number of influenza-like illness in the district.
“We have asked KMSCL to procure medicine to avoid a shortage. We have alerted every health centres in the district and guidelines are being circulated to identify H1N1 cases. We have given strict instruction to start the treatment immediately if it’s H1N1. Delaying of the treatment may turn fatal,” said the official.
Pregnant women, children, elderly and those with other underlying health issues are the risk group.
“We have given strict instruction to immediately start the treatment if the patient falls under the risk group,” said the official.
