While 16 more people died of swine flu across India yesterday
While 16 more people died of swine flu across India yesterday
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No protection: Passengers Varun Santosh from the US and Castora Catino from New Zealand told MiD DAY that medical personnel on duty at Mumbai airport were no longer questioning passengers about swine flu.
Pics/Bipin Kumar Singh |
Swine flu has claimed 831 victims in India so far, of which 251 have died in Mumbai alone and the toll continues to rise. However, the staff manning the swine flu screening centre at Mumbai airport has almost stopped screening passengers for H1N1 symptoms.
Shocking still is the attitude of the state administration. Sharvari Gokhale, health secretary, Maharashtra, said she wanted to ask passengers if facilities at other international and domestic airports were any better. "We have done what was required, and we don't need suggestions from others," said Gokhale.
Harish Pujari (42), who arrived on an Air India flight from Bangkok on Monday night, confirmed that he did not see one among the hundreds of passengers passing the H1N1 booth being stopped or tested. "I was not stopped or asked any questions by the medical staff. What is the point in having an H1N1 screening centre if no one is going to be screened?" asked Pujari.
Two other passengers Varun Santosh (26), who arrived from the US on Sunday, and Castora Catino (28) from New Zealand, who reached Mumbai on a Singapore Airlines on Tuesday night, confirmed that the medical personnel on duty were no longer questioning passengers.
Dr Abhay Chowdhary, director, Haffkins Institute, said, "The virus is not spreading as fast in Mumbai because the weather is not conducive for it to proliferate. However, in other cities like Bangalore, fresh cases continue to come to light daily," said Chowdhary.
Manish Kalghatgi, the spokesperson of Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd, the managers of the airport said all questions concerning the swine flu screening centre should be directed towards the state government. "We only provide logistic support to the medical team from the state government. If proper routine is not being followed, it is theu00a0 government you should ask."
Dr Dilip Sarda, president of the Indian Medical Association, and a core member of the state-appointed H1N1 panel, said, "Swine flu continues to infect more and more people in Pune. It continues to pose a serious challenge to doctors."
2Number of people who died of swine flu in Maharashtra yesterday
268
Number of new cases reported in the country in the last one week
