Cops book Mickky for extortion
TNN
PANAJI: Nearly four months after Goa’s tourism minister was accused of threatening and intimidating the management of a South Goa casino, the crime branch on Wednesday registered an offence against Mickky Pacheco for criminal intimidation and extortion. When contacted, Pacheco said he was not aware of the development.
An offence was booked against Pacheco and 11 others under Section 452 (trespass after preparation to hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), Section 384 (extortion) and Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
The incident had occurred on May 31 but the complaint was lodged with Colva police only on June 10. A month later, the case was handed over to the crime branch, which after a probe, sought the opinion opinion of the director of prosecution. It registered an offence against Mickky and 11 others on Wednesday.
18 September 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Friday, September 18, 2009
Police complaint against dog abusers
Police complaint against dog abusers
TNN
PANAJI: The police on Thursday registered a case against unknown persons under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for grievously injuring a
street dog at St Inez.
Blaming security guards of residential apartments for such acts, Angela Kazi of People for Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said this was the third such case that has come to their notice.
"The perpetrators of the crime use a sharp, thin metal ring with a long handle, which lies with the baiter. Food is placed inside the ring and when the dog goes to eat the food, the baiter pulls the ring, trapping the dog. When the dog tries to escape, it gets grievously injured," she said, adding, "The bleeding animal is often left to die."
Panaji police had earlier registered a case against a Caranzalem couple for injuring a street dog in a similar fashion. Police sources said that in one of the cases, the security guards informed them that they had acted on the instructions of flat owners. "It is difficult to catch the culprits as there is no evidence about who committed the act," said police.
Dr Sonia Chauhan, director, said, "Enforcement of laws is not happening in Goa. We rescue and treat the animal, keeping it till it is better, and then release it. But no action is taken against the perpetrators of the crime, even though in most cases a police complaint is registered." Veterinarian Sachin Bhosale added, "Such cruelty is banned. This is done to fatally injure the animal. Strict action should be taken against such persons. This will act as a deterrent."
18 September 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
TNN
PANAJI: The police on Thursday registered a case against unknown persons under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for grievously injuring a
street dog at St Inez.
Blaming security guards of residential apartments for such acts, Angela Kazi of People for Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said this was the third such case that has come to their notice.
"The perpetrators of the crime use a sharp, thin metal ring with a long handle, which lies with the baiter. Food is placed inside the ring and when the dog goes to eat the food, the baiter pulls the ring, trapping the dog. When the dog tries to escape, it gets grievously injured," she said, adding, "The bleeding animal is often left to die."
Panaji police had earlier registered a case against a Caranzalem couple for injuring a street dog in a similar fashion. Police sources said that in one of the cases, the security guards informed them that they had acted on the instructions of flat owners. "It is difficult to catch the culprits as there is no evidence about who committed the act," said police.
Dr Sonia Chauhan, director, said, "Enforcement of laws is not happening in Goa. We rescue and treat the animal, keeping it till it is better, and then release it. But no action is taken against the perpetrators of the crime, even though in most cases a police complaint is registered." Veterinarian Sachin Bhosale added, "Such cruelty is banned. This is done to fatally injure the animal. Strict action should be taken against such persons. This will act as a deterrent."
18 September 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
6-year-old is state's first dengue casualty
6-year-old is state's first dengue casualty
TNN
PANAJI: Goa recorded its first dengue death when a six-year-old boy from Calangute succumbed to the disease at the Goa Medical College and
Hospital, Bambolim on Thursday morning.
Godfrey Fernandes was admitted to a private hospital in Mapusa on Tuesday with a history of fever, pain in the abdomen and vomiting. As the child's condition was critical, the hospital sent his blood samples for a rapid test which revealed that he was suffering from dengue. On Wednesday evening he was shifted to GMC. He died on Thursday morning.
Calling it a "clinical case of dengue", GMC doctors told TOI that the child's blood samples have been sent for the more reliable MAC Elisa test to confirm if the child was suffering from dengue or leptospirosis. "This test is more reliable than the rapid test," doctors revealed.
Deputy director of health services, Dr Deepak Kabadi, said, "Clinically, the child died of what is known as the dengue shock syndrome (complicated dengue fever). We have sent the blood samples for microbiological examination and the report is awaited. Once we get the report, then only will be able to call it a confirmed case of dengue death."
This year, 49 people tested positive for dengue in Goa. Private doctors in the city added, "This year, we have seen an increase of 10 to 15% in dengue cases."
Meanwhile, a 10-year-old boy from Tiswadi tested positive for H1N1. The child had no travel history and health authorities are trying to find out how he got infected. They have also done follow-up drives in the school where the child is studying and said that till date no other suspected case of H1N1 has been found in the school.
18 September 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
TNN
PANAJI: Goa recorded its first dengue death when a six-year-old boy from Calangute succumbed to the disease at the Goa Medical College and
Hospital, Bambolim on Thursday morning.
Godfrey Fernandes was admitted to a private hospital in Mapusa on Tuesday with a history of fever, pain in the abdomen and vomiting. As the child's condition was critical, the hospital sent his blood samples for a rapid test which revealed that he was suffering from dengue. On Wednesday evening he was shifted to GMC. He died on Thursday morning.
Calling it a "clinical case of dengue", GMC doctors told TOI that the child's blood samples have been sent for the more reliable MAC Elisa test to confirm if the child was suffering from dengue or leptospirosis. "This test is more reliable than the rapid test," doctors revealed.
Deputy director of health services, Dr Deepak Kabadi, said, "Clinically, the child died of what is known as the dengue shock syndrome (complicated dengue fever). We have sent the blood samples for microbiological examination and the report is awaited. Once we get the report, then only will be able to call it a confirmed case of dengue death."
This year, 49 people tested positive for dengue in Goa. Private doctors in the city added, "This year, we have seen an increase of 10 to 15% in dengue cases."
Meanwhile, a 10-year-old boy from Tiswadi tested positive for H1N1. The child had no travel history and health authorities are trying to find out how he got infected. They have also done follow-up drives in the school where the child is studying and said that till date no other suspected case of H1N1 has been found in the school.
18 September 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Jails have a better menu than GMC for inmates
Jails have a better menu than GMC for inmates
Byline: Preetu Nair,16 September 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
PANAJI: The government has decided to increase the money spent on prisoners’ diet from Rs 35 to Rs 40 per person per day from October 1. The
amount is almost double the Rs 22 allotted per person per day for in-patients at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, for the last three years.
At present, there are 146 prisoners in Aguada central jail and 123 at Sada sub-jail. They are fed tea (without milk) with bread or poi for breakfast, a vegetarian or non-vegetarian lunch with fish curry or egg, evening black tea with biscuits and vegetarian dinner with chapatis. Every fortnight, they get chicken curry for lunch.
Accused held in police custody, too, have better provisions for meals. Panaji lock-up has provisions to feed each accused with lunch and dinner worth Rs 26 and breakfast worth Rs 12. At the Bicholim lockup, a prisoner can avail food worth Rs 30.
“All prisoners are given food as prescribed by the jail manual, which includes a proper diet of protein, fats, carbohydrates, calcium, iron and vitamins. Also, for sick prisoners who are not admitted to hospital, we have a facility for a special diet, which is in lieu of the regular diet to which the prisoner is otherwise eligible and which has to be recommended by a medical officer,” said ajail officer.
Said John Abreu Lobo, amicus curiae in a public interest litigation for better facilities in the state’s prisons, “To ensure that the quality of food served to prisoners is not affected, the amount allotted for prisoners’ food needs to be hiked, taking into account the high rate of inflation and rise in prices of food items.”
Byline: Preetu Nair,16 September 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
PANAJI: The government has decided to increase the money spent on prisoners’ diet from Rs 35 to Rs 40 per person per day from October 1. The
amount is almost double the Rs 22 allotted per person per day for in-patients at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, for the last three years.
At present, there are 146 prisoners in Aguada central jail and 123 at Sada sub-jail. They are fed tea (without milk) with bread or poi for breakfast, a vegetarian or non-vegetarian lunch with fish curry or egg, evening black tea with biscuits and vegetarian dinner with chapatis. Every fortnight, they get chicken curry for lunch.
Accused held in police custody, too, have better provisions for meals. Panaji lock-up has provisions to feed each accused with lunch and dinner worth Rs 26 and breakfast worth Rs 12. At the Bicholim lockup, a prisoner can avail food worth Rs 30.
“All prisoners are given food as prescribed by the jail manual, which includes a proper diet of protein, fats, carbohydrates, calcium, iron and vitamins. Also, for sick prisoners who are not admitted to hospital, we have a facility for a special diet, which is in lieu of the regular diet to which the prisoner is otherwise eligible and which has to be recommended by a medical officer,” said ajail officer.
Said John Abreu Lobo, amicus curiae in a public interest litigation for better facilities in the state’s prisons, “To ensure that the quality of food served to prisoners is not affected, the amount allotted for prisoners’ food needs to be hiked, taking into account the high rate of inflation and rise in prices of food items.”
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
ACB discovers private business in govt office
ACB discovers private business in govt office
TNN
PANAJI: Officers of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) raided the office of the legal metrology department at Mapusa on Monday morning and found a private person operating from the department’s office.
ACB sleuths said that they had received complaints that a private person was checking Bardez taluka’s traders’ weights and measures and issuing receipts. He would charge anything between Rs 100 and Rs 500. The legal metrology department’s inspector would renew licenses only after traders acquired their receipts from this person. The department issues licenses to traders to use weights and measures in their shops and establishments. These weights and measures have to be checked and their licenses renewed every year. The license is renewed by the department’s inspector after a fee of Rs 100 is paid, said ACB sources.
ACB officials said preliminary inquiries revealed that the person—a representative from Lexprus Enterprises, a Duler-based firm—couldn’t produce any documents authorising him to operate from the department’s premises. Officials suspect that he was operating illegally in connivance with the local officials. Though the department does accord licenses to private players for maintenance and repair of weights and measures, they need to have a separate office and are not allowed to function in the department’s office, sources said, adding that it is the inspector who is authorised to issue clearance certificates. The ACB is investigating the role of three officers of the department, including the inspector and assistant inspector, as well as the role of the proprietor of the private firm.
15 September 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
TNN
PANAJI: Officers of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) raided the office of the legal metrology department at Mapusa on Monday morning and found a private person operating from the department’s office.
ACB sleuths said that they had received complaints that a private person was checking Bardez taluka’s traders’ weights and measures and issuing receipts. He would charge anything between Rs 100 and Rs 500. The legal metrology department’s inspector would renew licenses only after traders acquired their receipts from this person. The department issues licenses to traders to use weights and measures in their shops and establishments. These weights and measures have to be checked and their licenses renewed every year. The license is renewed by the department’s inspector after a fee of Rs 100 is paid, said ACB sources.
ACB officials said preliminary inquiries revealed that the person—a representative from Lexprus Enterprises, a Duler-based firm—couldn’t produce any documents authorising him to operate from the department’s premises. Officials suspect that he was operating illegally in connivance with the local officials. Though the department does accord licenses to private players for maintenance and repair of weights and measures, they need to have a separate office and are not allowed to function in the department’s office, sources said, adding that it is the inspector who is authorised to issue clearance certificates. The ACB is investigating the role of three officers of the department, including the inspector and assistant inspector, as well as the role of the proprietor of the private firm.
15 September 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
'Asthma drug before cardiac surgery prevents renal failure'
'Asthma drug before cardiac surgery prevents renal failure'
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Aminophylline, a drug used to treat wheezing and other breathing difficulties such as asthma, if given to patients undergoing cardiac
surgery is an effective strategy to prevent post operative renal failure.
The effectiveness of aminophylline for prevention of renal impairment after cardiac surgery was evaluated on 138 patients undergoing cardiac surgery and it was found that patients who received preoperative aminophylline infusion had lower incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery, than those who didn't receive it.
Explaining that it is important to administer aminophylline before cardiac operation to prevent renal failure, Dr Amol Mahaldar, department of nephrology, Meenakshi mission hospital and research centre, Madurai said, "The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery remains high, despite improvements in surgical techniques and preoperative care, and is associated with an unacceptably high mortality. Aminophylline has shown to confer benefit in experimental and clinical acute renal failure (ARF) due to ischemia, contrast media and various nephrotoxic agents."
Sixty-three patients received aminophylline of 5 mg and a subsequent continuous infusion of 0.25 mg per hour for up to 72 hours, while 75 patients received usual post operative care (isotonic saline infusion). Serum creatinine concentrations were measured preoperatively and daily until day 5 after surgery, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a marker for kidney function and post-operative hourly urine output was recorded.
The results showed that those who received preoperative aminophylline infusion had lower incidence of AKI than those who didn't receive aminophylline infusion but had post operative care.
Dr Mahaldar presented the results of the study, "A Prospective Study of Intravenous Aminophylline for the prevention of Acute Kidney Injury in Cardiac Surgery", at the just concluded silver jubilee conference of Indian Society of Nephrology West zone chapter and it won him the best paper award in the free paper section of the conference.
The paper notes that ARF, depending on the specific definition, occurs in up to 30% of all patients who undergo cardiac surgery. ARF that requires dialysis occurs in approximately 1%. "The development of kidney injury is associated with a high mortality, a more complicated hospital course, and a higher risk for infectious complications. Even minimal changes in serum creatinine that occur in the postoperative period are associated with a substantial decrease in survival," Dr Mahaldar said.
Also majority of patients develop ARF that requires dialysis and remain dialysis dependent, leading to significant long-term morbidity and mortality, he added.
15 September 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Aminophylline, a drug used to treat wheezing and other breathing difficulties such as asthma, if given to patients undergoing cardiac
surgery is an effective strategy to prevent post operative renal failure.
The effectiveness of aminophylline for prevention of renal impairment after cardiac surgery was evaluated on 138 patients undergoing cardiac surgery and it was found that patients who received preoperative aminophylline infusion had lower incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery, than those who didn't receive it.
Explaining that it is important to administer aminophylline before cardiac operation to prevent renal failure, Dr Amol Mahaldar, department of nephrology, Meenakshi mission hospital and research centre, Madurai said, "The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery remains high, despite improvements in surgical techniques and preoperative care, and is associated with an unacceptably high mortality. Aminophylline has shown to confer benefit in experimental and clinical acute renal failure (ARF) due to ischemia, contrast media and various nephrotoxic agents."
Sixty-three patients received aminophylline of 5 mg and a subsequent continuous infusion of 0.25 mg per hour for up to 72 hours, while 75 patients received usual post operative care (isotonic saline infusion). Serum creatinine concentrations were measured preoperatively and daily until day 5 after surgery, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a marker for kidney function and post-operative hourly urine output was recorded.
The results showed that those who received preoperative aminophylline infusion had lower incidence of AKI than those who didn't receive aminophylline infusion but had post operative care.
Dr Mahaldar presented the results of the study, "A Prospective Study of Intravenous Aminophylline for the prevention of Acute Kidney Injury in Cardiac Surgery", at the just concluded silver jubilee conference of Indian Society of Nephrology West zone chapter and it won him the best paper award in the free paper section of the conference.
The paper notes that ARF, depending on the specific definition, occurs in up to 30% of all patients who undergo cardiac surgery. ARF that requires dialysis occurs in approximately 1%. "The development of kidney injury is associated with a high mortality, a more complicated hospital course, and a higher risk for infectious complications. Even minimal changes in serum creatinine that occur in the postoperative period are associated with a substantial decrease in survival," Dr Mahaldar said.
Also majority of patients develop ARF that requires dialysis and remain dialysis dependent, leading to significant long-term morbidity and mortality, he added.
15 September 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Goa Medical College lab faces heavy pressure
GMC lab faces heavy pressure
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: With the number of blood samples being sent to the Goa Medical College and Hospital’s microbiology department to be tested for
chikungunya touching almost 40 a day, the directorate of health services (DHS) has decided not to collect samples from places where an outbreak has already been recorded and to limit the number of blood samples sent from new places recording symptoms of the disease to 5%.
The decision was conveyed to all state health officers by DHS deputy director, National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme, Dr Deepak Kabadi on Wednesday at the department’s monthly meeting in Panaji. Sources said the decision was taken after GMC authorities, unable to deal with the large number of samples , requested the DHS not to send samples from places where an outbreak has already been recorded.
Dr Kabadi told TOI, “We have decided that once it is confirmed that there are cases of chikungunya in a particular locality we won’t send new blood samples from that area to GMC as this will only increase the load on the laboratory. In case of new areas, if the number of people showing chikungunya symptoms is small, samples of all of them will be sent for tests. However, if a large number of people show similar symptoms, 5% of the samples will be sent to GMC.”
The Times of India, Goa edition, 14 September 2009
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: With the number of blood samples being sent to the Goa Medical College and Hospital’s microbiology department to be tested for
chikungunya touching almost 40 a day, the directorate of health services (DHS) has decided not to collect samples from places where an outbreak has already been recorded and to limit the number of blood samples sent from new places recording symptoms of the disease to 5%.
The decision was conveyed to all state health officers by DHS deputy director, National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme, Dr Deepak Kabadi on Wednesday at the department’s monthly meeting in Panaji. Sources said the decision was taken after GMC authorities, unable to deal with the large number of samples , requested the DHS not to send samples from places where an outbreak has already been recorded.
Dr Kabadi told TOI, “We have decided that once it is confirmed that there are cases of chikungunya in a particular locality we won’t send new blood samples from that area to GMC as this will only increase the load on the laboratory. In case of new areas, if the number of people showing chikungunya symptoms is small, samples of all of them will be sent for tests. However, if a large number of people show similar symptoms, 5% of the samples will be sent to GMC.”
The Times of India, Goa edition, 14 September 2009
GMC seeks MCI nod for MBBS seat increase
GMC seeks MCI nod for MBBS seat increase
TNN
PANAJI: Armed with temporary affiliation from the Goa University to increase the intake capacity for MBBS attheGoa Medical College and Hospital,
Bambolim, from 100 to 150 seats, GMC officials have sent a proposal to the Medical Council of India (MCI), seeking the monitoring body's nod for the increase in seats.
The government had initially proposed to increase the number of seats at GMC from 100 to 200 from the next academic year, however, new MCI guidelines do not allow for the numbers. "The maximum number of admissions in the MBBS course shall not exceed 150 annually," state the guidelines.
The decision to increase the seats at GMC was taken after the state government scrapped the proposal to have a private medical college. "We have had discussions regarding a private medical college (in Goa) and it was felt that there is no need for another medical college in the state. We will try to get MCI recognition for the Mapusa hospital to ensure that interns from GMC are posted there," health minister Vishwajit Rane had earlier announced.
Sources said that a similar pattern of posting interns would be followed at the Hospicio hospital in Margao. This, health department sources said, would solve the problem of staff shortage to some extent.
To get the MCI nod, however, GMC will have to provide additional equipment and facilities such as staff, space, funds, equipment and teaching beds for the increased number of seats.
Even GU, while granting temporary affiliation for the academic year 2010-2011, has put down a condition that the minimum requirement of faculty positions, as specified by MCI guidelines, should be appointed by GMC. Also, the number of clinical unitsneeded for 150 seats should be created as per MCI requirements, GU has said.
"At present, we are short of 30 doctors. We are working hard to meet this requirement. Besides, we have to increase the infrastructural facilities provided in the hospital, which also includes more number of clinical units," said a senior doctor at GMC. The staff shortage is mostly in PG clinical courses such as medicine, paediatrics and orthopaedics.
The government had initially proposed to increase the number of seats at GMC from 100 to 200 from the next academic year, however, new MCI guidelines state that the maximum number of admissions in the MBBS course shall not exceed 150 annually
14 September 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
TNN
PANAJI: Armed with temporary affiliation from the Goa University to increase the intake capacity for MBBS attheGoa Medical College and Hospital,
Bambolim, from 100 to 150 seats, GMC officials have sent a proposal to the Medical Council of India (MCI), seeking the monitoring body's nod for the increase in seats.
The government had initially proposed to increase the number of seats at GMC from 100 to 200 from the next academic year, however, new MCI guidelines do not allow for the numbers. "The maximum number of admissions in the MBBS course shall not exceed 150 annually," state the guidelines.
The decision to increase the seats at GMC was taken after the state government scrapped the proposal to have a private medical college. "We have had discussions regarding a private medical college (in Goa) and it was felt that there is no need for another medical college in the state. We will try to get MCI recognition for the Mapusa hospital to ensure that interns from GMC are posted there," health minister Vishwajit Rane had earlier announced.
Sources said that a similar pattern of posting interns would be followed at the Hospicio hospital in Margao. This, health department sources said, would solve the problem of staff shortage to some extent.
To get the MCI nod, however, GMC will have to provide additional equipment and facilities such as staff, space, funds, equipment and teaching beds for the increased number of seats.
Even GU, while granting temporary affiliation for the academic year 2010-2011, has put down a condition that the minimum requirement of faculty positions, as specified by MCI guidelines, should be appointed by GMC. Also, the number of clinical unitsneeded for 150 seats should be created as per MCI requirements, GU has said.
"At present, we are short of 30 doctors. We are working hard to meet this requirement. Besides, we have to increase the infrastructural facilities provided in the hospital, which also includes more number of clinical units," said a senior doctor at GMC. The staff shortage is mostly in PG clinical courses such as medicine, paediatrics and orthopaedics.
The government had initially proposed to increase the number of seats at GMC from 100 to 200 from the next academic year, however, new MCI guidelines state that the maximum number of admissions in the MBBS course shall not exceed 150 annually
14 September 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tiger poaching case:Rajendra Kerkar faces social boycott in Keri
Tiger poaching case:Rajendra Kerkar faces social boycott in Keri
Preetu Nair, TNN
KERI: The irony couldn’t have been more stark. Outside the state, he is being awarded for his efforts in environment conservation.
In his own village, Rajendra Kerkar faces a social boycott. All because Kerkar—who with his street play ‘Do not kill the tiger’ created awareness in his village of Keri to preserve the country’s fast diminishing big cat population—exposed the killing of a tiger in the same village in TOI’s edition of April 13.
“From the time I exposed the tiger killing, the Majik community in Keri has been upset. They are constantly trying to provoke the rest of the village against me to ensure that I am socially and culturally boycotted in the village. I have also been getting threatening calls,” said Kerkar.
Until now, the environmental movement in Keri has been led by Kerkar, who was instrumental in getting the Mhadei area notified as a wildlife sanctuary. Now the very effort has made him a villain in the eyes of the 500-odd members of the Majik community, living close to the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary.
Kerkar reveals that his woes started from the time he wrote in TOI and subsequently to forest officials on April 15 alleging that a tiger had been killed in Keri near the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary in February 2009.
Immediately after this, on the night of April 18, Kerkar was called to a mello(meet) at Keri’s Kelbai temple and told that he had committed a grave crime by exposing the tiger’s killing.
28 August, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
KERI: The irony couldn’t have been more stark. Outside the state, he is being awarded for his efforts in environment conservation.
In his own village, Rajendra Kerkar faces a social boycott. All because Kerkar—who with his street play ‘Do not kill the tiger’ created awareness in his village of Keri to preserve the country’s fast diminishing big cat population—exposed the killing of a tiger in the same village in TOI’s edition of April 13.
“From the time I exposed the tiger killing, the Majik community in Keri has been upset. They are constantly trying to provoke the rest of the village against me to ensure that I am socially and culturally boycotted in the village. I have also been getting threatening calls,” said Kerkar.
Until now, the environmental movement in Keri has been led by Kerkar, who was instrumental in getting the Mhadei area notified as a wildlife sanctuary. Now the very effort has made him a villain in the eyes of the 500-odd members of the Majik community, living close to the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary.
Kerkar reveals that his woes started from the time he wrote in TOI and subsequently to forest officials on April 15 alleging that a tiger had been killed in Keri near the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary in February 2009.
Immediately after this, on the night of April 18, Kerkar was called to a mello(meet) at Keri’s Kelbai temple and told that he had committed a grave crime by exposing the tiger’s killing.
28 August, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Police case against probe officials
Police case against probe officials
TNN
PANAJI: Almost three months after a home guard at Panaji’s police headquarters lodged a complaint against forest personnel for wrongful confinement and causing grievous injury, Valpoi police on Wednesday registered a case against three forest officials.
Police have booked an offence under section 342 (wrongful confinement), 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) read with sec 34 (common intention) of the IPC against assistant conservator of forests Anil Shetgaonkar, and range forest officers Paresh Parab and Tushidas Wadkar.
“We have registered the case and will be investigating strictly on merit,” said SP North Bosco George. Suryakant Majik in his complaint to the Valpoi police stated that he was beaten by the forest officials, which resulted in “grievous and serious” injuries. The complaint filed on May 27, notes that though he and his family had cooperated with the forest officials, they gave “animal like treatment” to him and his father.
“This act ...is illegal and inhuman and is punishable under the eyes of law” said Majik in his complaint. Majik was allegedly picked up by forest officials investigating the killing of a tiger at Keri village in February 2009, but police sources say that forest officials informed them that they had not arrested Majik.
This was in fact noted by the judicial magistrate first class, Valpoi, in an order dated May 23 on a bail application filed by Majik.
August 27,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
TNN
PANAJI: Almost three months after a home guard at Panaji’s police headquarters lodged a complaint against forest personnel for wrongful confinement and causing grievous injury, Valpoi police on Wednesday registered a case against three forest officials.
Police have booked an offence under section 342 (wrongful confinement), 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) read with sec 34 (common intention) of the IPC against assistant conservator of forests Anil Shetgaonkar, and range forest officers Paresh Parab and Tushidas Wadkar.
“We have registered the case and will be investigating strictly on merit,” said SP North Bosco George. Suryakant Majik in his complaint to the Valpoi police stated that he was beaten by the forest officials, which resulted in “grievous and serious” injuries. The complaint filed on May 27, notes that though he and his family had cooperated with the forest officials, they gave “animal like treatment” to him and his father.
“This act ...is illegal and inhuman and is punishable under the eyes of law” said Majik in his complaint. Majik was allegedly picked up by forest officials investigating the killing of a tiger at Keri village in February 2009, but police sources say that forest officials informed them that they had not arrested Majik.
This was in fact noted by the judicial magistrate first class, Valpoi, in an order dated May 23 on a bail application filed by Majik.
August 27,2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
I found out this net prick who was sending me anonymous mail!
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:28:10 +0530
Subject: The Authenticity of the News/ Articles
Respected Madam/ Sir,
This mail is in regard to the authenticity of the News/ Articles carried by your newspaper “prostitution in Goa”.
Madam/ Sir, if your news was credible, what action did the police take to cube this flesh trade. Was any action taken? What was the TOI impact (like what you guys like to call it). Madam/ Sir, I would be grateful if you would not tarnish Goa’s name just for some insignificant gains. Preetu Nair should try and speak the truth than sensationalize her story.
As a reader, I expect credibility and sincerity from the reporters & Editors of your reputed organization.
P.S note: I have not taken the scheme offered by your newspaper; instead I pay the full amount to read your newspaper everyday. Please be accountable, its my hard earned money that's at stake.
Regards,
Bess
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Dear Ms. Preetu Nair,
Thank you for your prompt reply. In regard to a meeting I would be glad to oblige to your request. When would you like to meet me, and where? Please bring along your editor with you. That’s my only request.
Regards,
Bess Reed
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Dear Mr/Ms Reed,
I will be happy to hear you out. You are welcome to come to The Times of India office, Miramar and meet me on Saturday at 12.30 pm.
Thank you.
preetu
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Dear Preetu,
Thank you madam, let me bring to your note, “YOU WANTED TO MEET ME” and I guess you are not the chief minister of GOA for me to come and meet you.
So, Sit and think for sometime before you email. I am free on Sunday. Why not join us for Brunch at the Marriott’s.
Bess Reed
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Subject: The Authenticity of the News/ Articles
Respected Madam/ Sir,
This mail is in regard to the authenticity of the News/ Articles carried by your newspaper “prostitution in Goa”.
Madam/ Sir, if your news was credible, what action did the police take to cube this flesh trade. Was any action taken? What was the TOI impact (like what you guys like to call it). Madam/ Sir, I would be grateful if you would not tarnish Goa’s name just for some insignificant gains. Preetu Nair should try and speak the truth than sensationalize her story.
As a reader, I expect credibility and sincerity from the reporters & Editors of your reputed organization.
P.S note: I have not taken the scheme offered by your newspaper; instead I pay the full amount to read your newspaper everyday. Please be accountable, its my hard earned money that's at stake.
Regards,
Bess
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Dear Ms. Preetu Nair,
Thank you for your prompt reply. In regard to a meeting I would be glad to oblige to your request. When would you like to meet me, and where? Please bring along your editor with you. That’s my only request.
Regards,
Bess Reed
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Dear Mr/Ms Reed,
I will be happy to hear you out. You are welcome to come to The Times of India office, Miramar and meet me on Saturday at 12.30 pm.
Thank you.
preetu
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Dear Preetu,
Thank you madam, let me bring to your note, “YOU WANTED TO MEET ME” and I guess you are not the chief minister of GOA for me to come and meet you.
So, Sit and think for sometime before you email. I am free on Sunday. Why not join us for Brunch at the Marriott’s.
Bess Reed
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Tuesday, August 18, 2009
'He may paint Ganesha as Michael Jackson next'
'He may paint Ganesha as Michael Jackson next'
Preetu Nair, TNN
Panaji: The police have warned artist Subodh Kerkar to be wary of hurting religious sentiments after Hindu Janjagruti Samithi (HJS) complained about his paintings of Lord Ganesha.
According to sources, acting on the HJS complaint , the police have sent a report to the sub-divisional magistrate explaining the circumstances of the case and the law and order problem that could arise out of it. The complaint has also been referred to the prosecution director for legal opinion.
Legal eagles were divided on the issue. While senior counsel Surendra Dessai accused the police of being lenient on the artist, advocate Arun Bras de Sa asked, " the question is under what provisions of the law are the police prohibiting the artist from having the exhibition? If it is a work of art, then the perception may differ."
According to Dessai, the police could have booked the artist under section 295 (A) of IPC, which is a cognizable offence, for hurting religious feelings, " on the contrary , the police have given him a light treatment by issuing notice under section 149, probably to balance the freedom of art and penal action," he said.
Section 295 (A) of IPC deals with deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beleifs which could be either by words, spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations.
Advocate de Sa said, "section 149 of the CrPC under which the notice has been served does not speak of religious insult. It deals with a police officer preventing the commission of any cognizable offence. The question if under what provisions of law are the police prohibiting the artist from having exhibition? If it is a work of art , then the perception may differ."
Referring to a recent Supreme Court judgment, in the case of M.F.Hussain where it was alleged the he had offended Hindus with a painting representing Bharat Mata as a nude goddess, de Sa said, "the Supreme Court opined that legal proceedings against the painter should be dropped and said that the nudity potrayed by Hussain had a long history. The judgment said,'there are many such pictures, paintings and sculptures and some of them are in temples'.
Speaking to TOI, HJS state convenor, Jayesh Thali said, "Artistic freedom should not be at the cost of hurting public sentiment and gain publicity. If painting Lord Ganesh as sumo wrestler is allowed, then tommorow the artist may paint Ganesh in the form of Michael Jackson or Madonna. If the artist is really secular, he should also draw such pictures of Christ during Christmas and Mohammed Paigambar during Id."
ART VIEW
"We should have certain limits for freedom. Freedom does not mean going out of the line. To depict what we want, we need to do it with a sense of responsibility. Being a Catholic, my feeling were hurt when i looked at the pictures (of Ganesha) as they were hurting the God i respect. The police is justified in giving the notice this time for the sake of keeping peace and communal harmony"
Yolanda D' Souza/ Artist
"It is quite unfortunate that the state is getting involved in matters of art. If they have to be involved, they should be involved in facilitating discussions between the artist and the powers that oppose a creation of art"
Abhay Sardesai/ Editor, Art India
"I have seen Subodh Kerkar's works and they are beautiful. If you go to some of the temples in India, you will see the same type of work. There is nothing wrong with what he has done"
Norman Tagore/ Artist
"Artist need freedom to express themselves. At the same time , they should impose self - restraint. If there is law which deters an artist from doing such a thing then the police can intervene to ensure that there is no law and order problem."
Naguesh Sardesai / Artist
Goa Police bow to pressure, ask Kerkar to stop show
Goa Police bow to pressure, ask Kerkar to stop show
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Cowing under pressure from the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS), the police on Monday served notice on reputed Goan artist Subodh Kerkar to “desist from getting involved in such activities which may insult religious feelings or religious beliefs”. SP (North) Bosco George said Kerkar “should keep in mind the sentiments of the community and avoid creating a law and order problem”. “We will soon take a decision on whether or not the artist’s graphics hurt sentiments.
If it is found to hurt religious sentiments, we will initiate legal action against him,” he said. HJS had petitioned the police last week alleging that Kerkar had published “drawings of Lord Ganesh in various positions”, thereby insulting religious beliefs. It also wanted that the artist’s exhibition of Ganesha drawings be stopped. Earlier this month, HJS had demanded that the Goa State Museum remove M F Husain’s ‘Standing Buddha’ from its gallery. Officials said the matter would be taken up with higher authorities.
Even as the Calangute police issued notice to Kerkar under section 149 CrPC (police powers to prevent cognizable offence), the artist said he would go ahead with his exhibition. He also sought police protection apprehending that some organisations might try to disrupt his show scheduled from August 20 to 31, 2009 at the Kerkar Art Gallery in Calangute. Kerkar also alleged that on Monday he received calls from unknown persons, abusing him and threatening to murder him.
On receiving his complaint, the police have registered an offence under section 507 IPC (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) against unknown persons. “There is absolutely no intention of hurting anybody’s religious feelings. My drawings are my offerings to Shri Ganapati and no kind of insult is intended,” he said. “If some people’s feelings have been hurt by these drawings, it only shows their narrow-mindedness and fanaticism.
May Lord Ganesh help them clear their minds,” he said. “You (police) are most welcome to my gallery any time to view my drawings and judge for yourself,” Kerkar said in his reply to the police.
18 August 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Cowing under pressure from the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS), the police on Monday served notice on reputed Goan artist Subodh Kerkar to “desist from getting involved in such activities which may insult religious feelings or religious beliefs”. SP (North) Bosco George said Kerkar “should keep in mind the sentiments of the community and avoid creating a law and order problem”. “We will soon take a decision on whether or not the artist’s graphics hurt sentiments.
If it is found to hurt religious sentiments, we will initiate legal action against him,” he said. HJS had petitioned the police last week alleging that Kerkar had published “drawings of Lord Ganesh in various positions”, thereby insulting religious beliefs. It also wanted that the artist’s exhibition of Ganesha drawings be stopped. Earlier this month, HJS had demanded that the Goa State Museum remove M F Husain’s ‘Standing Buddha’ from its gallery. Officials said the matter would be taken up with higher authorities.
Even as the Calangute police issued notice to Kerkar under section 149 CrPC (police powers to prevent cognizable offence), the artist said he would go ahead with his exhibition. He also sought police protection apprehending that some organisations might try to disrupt his show scheduled from August 20 to 31, 2009 at the Kerkar Art Gallery in Calangute. Kerkar also alleged that on Monday he received calls from unknown persons, abusing him and threatening to murder him.
On receiving his complaint, the police have registered an offence under section 507 IPC (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) against unknown persons. “There is absolutely no intention of hurting anybody’s religious feelings. My drawings are my offerings to Shri Ganapati and no kind of insult is intended,” he said. “If some people’s feelings have been hurt by these drawings, it only shows their narrow-mindedness and fanaticism.
May Lord Ganesh help them clear their minds,” he said. “You (police) are most welcome to my gallery any time to view my drawings and judge for yourself,” Kerkar said in his reply to the police.
18 August 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Monday, August 17, 2009
Chinks in Goa swine flu plan exposed
Chinks in Goa swine flu plan exposed
Preetu Nair
PANAJI: Neither of the two Rapid Response Teams (RRT) - consisting of an epidemiologist and microbiologist each - were present at Chicalim cottage hospital from Saturday afternoon till late Sunday evening and there’s no night screening happening at the Dhargalim border.
This at a time when health officials say that 50 to 60 patients queue up at the Chicalim cottage hospital for testing and the number of suspected swine flu cases is rising daily.
On Saturday afternoon, Malcolm Coelho, 27, who had arrived in Goa from Mumbai went for swine flu test at Chicalim, where he found neither RRT present. Speaking to TOI from his home in Cuncolim on Sunday, Coelho, a businessman said, “On Friday night, I developed temperature, body ache, diarrhoea, cough and sore throat.
As I had influenza symptoms, I was immediately taken to Cottage hospital, Chicalim. Here, government nurses refused to attend to me, stating ‘The doctors left at 2 pm. It is a holiday. Come on Monday’.” Saturday was Independence day. When the family protested, staff at Chicalim gave Coelho two contact numbers and asked him to talk to the doctors in-charge of controlling the spread of swine flu.
“I called one of them, who advised me to immediately go to a private practitioner and start medication. He said that if the situation didn’t improve, then to come to the Chicalim Cottage hospital on Monday morning. I am shocked that Goa has not learnt from Maharshtra’s experience,” said Coelho. Health department officials have downplayed the incident and said that no swab samples are collected on Sunday.
17 August 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair
PANAJI: Neither of the two Rapid Response Teams (RRT) - consisting of an epidemiologist and microbiologist each - were present at Chicalim cottage hospital from Saturday afternoon till late Sunday evening and there’s no night screening happening at the Dhargalim border.
This at a time when health officials say that 50 to 60 patients queue up at the Chicalim cottage hospital for testing and the number of suspected swine flu cases is rising daily.
On Saturday afternoon, Malcolm Coelho, 27, who had arrived in Goa from Mumbai went for swine flu test at Chicalim, where he found neither RRT present. Speaking to TOI from his home in Cuncolim on Sunday, Coelho, a businessman said, “On Friday night, I developed temperature, body ache, diarrhoea, cough and sore throat.
As I had influenza symptoms, I was immediately taken to Cottage hospital, Chicalim. Here, government nurses refused to attend to me, stating ‘The doctors left at 2 pm. It is a holiday. Come on Monday’.” Saturday was Independence day. When the family protested, staff at Chicalim gave Coelho two contact numbers and asked him to talk to the doctors in-charge of controlling the spread of swine flu.
“I called one of them, who advised me to immediately go to a private practitioner and start medication. He said that if the situation didn’t improve, then to come to the Chicalim Cottage hospital on Monday morning. I am shocked that Goa has not learnt from Maharshtra’s experience,” said Coelho. Health department officials have downplayed the incident and said that no swab samples are collected on Sunday.
17 August 2009,The Times of India, Goa edition
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Kayaking enthusiast drowns off Miramar
Kayaking enthusiast drowns off Miramar
TNN
PANAJI: A 32-year-old man died on Saturday when his regular kayaking foray into the sea off Miramar beach went wrong. He was not wearing a life jacket.
Panaji police said Nitin Nevrekar, owner of a car accessory shop at St Inez, went to Miramar beach with four friends and a young boy, the son of a friend, at 7am on Saturday. Two hours later he was declared brought dead at a private hospital in the city. His body was later shifted to the GMC.
Recounting what happened, the friends told police that Nevrekar who had rowed quite deep into the sea was tossed out of the kayak and was swept into the tide. Two friends who dived in to save him, managed to get him to shore after a struggle. When he didn’t respond to their first-aid attempts, they rushed him to a private hospital.
Claiming that Nevrekar refused to wear the life jacket they had carried along, the friends told the police, “He would never wear a life jacket. When we insisted that he wear it before going kayaking, he would tease us and say that while we might be scared, he isn’t.”
Commenting on the incident, businessman Annand Madgavkar, a member of the Miramar Baywatch Association, an NGO that puts up lifeguards on Miramar beach from 8am to 6pm, said, “There is no lifeguard from the tourism department on the beach and a kayak is not safe to be taken into the waves at Miramar in this weather.”
PSI Yogesh Pednekar is investigating the case.
16 August 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
TNN
PANAJI: A 32-year-old man died on Saturday when his regular kayaking foray into the sea off Miramar beach went wrong. He was not wearing a life jacket.
Panaji police said Nitin Nevrekar, owner of a car accessory shop at St Inez, went to Miramar beach with four friends and a young boy, the son of a friend, at 7am on Saturday. Two hours later he was declared brought dead at a private hospital in the city. His body was later shifted to the GMC.
Recounting what happened, the friends told police that Nevrekar who had rowed quite deep into the sea was tossed out of the kayak and was swept into the tide. Two friends who dived in to save him, managed to get him to shore after a struggle. When he didn’t respond to their first-aid attempts, they rushed him to a private hospital.
Claiming that Nevrekar refused to wear the life jacket they had carried along, the friends told the police, “He would never wear a life jacket. When we insisted that he wear it before going kayaking, he would tease us and say that while we might be scared, he isn’t.”
Commenting on the incident, businessman Annand Madgavkar, a member of the Miramar Baywatch Association, an NGO that puts up lifeguards on Miramar beach from 8am to 6pm, said, “There is no lifeguard from the tourism department on the beach and a kayak is not safe to be taken into the waves at Miramar in this weather.”
PSI Yogesh Pednekar is investigating the case.
16 August 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Rising food prices hit Goa Medical College patients
Rising food prices hit GMC patients
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Rising food prices, coupled with the state’s seeming apathy, are taking a direct toll on the dietary intake of patients at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim.
The state sanctions Rs 22 per patient per day—a sum, GMC officials say, is too meagre to supply patients with three big and two small nutritious meals. A proposal to up the amount to Rs 45 per patient per day has been pending with the government since the last three years, they add.
Health minister Vishwajit Rane told TOI he would take up the matter with the government, and added that the proposed amount is not enough either. “I have studied the issue, and with the present rise in food prices we need to increase the sanction from Rs 22 to Rs 75 to ensure that we provide nutritious food to patients.” He added that a new proposal would be made to the government soon.
Incidentally, in a recent move, the state upped the sanction to Rs 50 per patient per day for those institutes under the Directorate of Health Services. Confirming the move, director, Dr Rajnanda Desai, said, “We received a fresh order from the government about a week ago hiking the amount per patient per day to Rs 50.” The move is expected to benefit the in-patients at the two district hospitals and primary and community health centres.
Meanwhile, at GMC, the patients’ menu has undergone a drastic change over the last three years. While chicken, juice and fruits, except for banana, have been taken off the menu, the daily dose of fish-curry rice and a boiled egg have been allotted a thrice-weekly appearance. Bananas, point out doctors, are not advisable for diabetics. They add that till last year, such patients were given a sweet lime each. Hospital sources add that food quantity too has been reduced.
“We get rice from the civil supplies department. Everything else—milk, vegetables, eggs and fish—is purchased at market rates. Moreover, we feed about 1,000 plus in-patients everyday,” say hospital sources.
Pointing out that food is not simply a cost issue but also a “prevention-and-treatment matter”, GMC officials say, “On an average, a patient requires 2,000 Kcal and between 50 and 60 gram of protein everyday. With the present menu, though we meet the calorie requirement, we fall short on the protein content.”
Medical superintendent Dr Rajan Kunkolienkar says, “Patients have to be given a balanced diet. But with the present budget and with the increase in food prices, giving a balanced diet to the patient is difficult.”
16 August, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Rising food prices, coupled with the state’s seeming apathy, are taking a direct toll on the dietary intake of patients at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim.
The state sanctions Rs 22 per patient per day—a sum, GMC officials say, is too meagre to supply patients with three big and two small nutritious meals. A proposal to up the amount to Rs 45 per patient per day has been pending with the government since the last three years, they add.
Health minister Vishwajit Rane told TOI he would take up the matter with the government, and added that the proposed amount is not enough either. “I have studied the issue, and with the present rise in food prices we need to increase the sanction from Rs 22 to Rs 75 to ensure that we provide nutritious food to patients.” He added that a new proposal would be made to the government soon.
Incidentally, in a recent move, the state upped the sanction to Rs 50 per patient per day for those institutes under the Directorate of Health Services. Confirming the move, director, Dr Rajnanda Desai, said, “We received a fresh order from the government about a week ago hiking the amount per patient per day to Rs 50.” The move is expected to benefit the in-patients at the two district hospitals and primary and community health centres.
Meanwhile, at GMC, the patients’ menu has undergone a drastic change over the last three years. While chicken, juice and fruits, except for banana, have been taken off the menu, the daily dose of fish-curry rice and a boiled egg have been allotted a thrice-weekly appearance. Bananas, point out doctors, are not advisable for diabetics. They add that till last year, such patients were given a sweet lime each. Hospital sources add that food quantity too has been reduced.
“We get rice from the civil supplies department. Everything else—milk, vegetables, eggs and fish—is purchased at market rates. Moreover, we feed about 1,000 plus in-patients everyday,” say hospital sources.
Pointing out that food is not simply a cost issue but also a “prevention-and-treatment matter”, GMC officials say, “On an average, a patient requires 2,000 Kcal and between 50 and 60 gram of protein everyday. With the present menu, though we meet the calorie requirement, we fall short on the protein content.”
Medical superintendent Dr Rajan Kunkolienkar says, “Patients have to be given a balanced diet. But with the present budget and with the increase in food prices, giving a balanced diet to the patient is difficult.”
16 August, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Friday, August 14, 2009
Don't travel to flu-hit areas, says Goa govt advisory
Don't travel to flu-hit areas, says Goa govt advisory
People also asked to avoid Crowded places in First such advisory.
Panaji/ Margao: In an unprecendented move, the Goa government on Thursday issued an advisory to asking citizens " not to undertake non essential/ travel as far as possible to H1N1 affected states". The advisory released as an advertisement in newspapers , is signed by the director, directorate of health services, Rajnanda Desai.
Speaking to TOI Desai said, " We have also advised people to avoid crowded places." She said tht due to the weekend holidays for Independence day and Ganesh Chaturthi , a number of tourists would be entering the state and flocking Ganesh Mandals, which the directorate was advising against.
"Mandals may get crowded and it would be difficult to curb the spread of the virus," said Desai.
The only state so far to ask it citizens not to travel to flu-hit areas has been Tamil Nadu, when a minister recently asked people not to travel to Maharashtra , leading to a controversy with the Maharashtra health minister questioning the one state's advisory against another and saying that if at all such a directive is needed to be issued, it should have come from the Centre. The Tamil Nadu minister later went on the defensive and claimed that all he said was that people should be careful while travelling in those areas.
Meanwhile, panic is leading to long ques at Chicalim Cottage hospital with 50-60 turning up for tests daily. This has forced the government to post two rapid response teams, comprising an epidemologist and microbiologist each, at the hospital. "People are scared. Many who do not have swine flu symptoms get upset when we do not collect their swab samples. Others get irritated but we counsel them and they understand," said health officials.
14 August, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
People also asked to avoid Crowded places in First such advisory.
Panaji/ Margao: In an unprecendented move, the Goa government on Thursday issued an advisory to asking citizens " not to undertake non essential/ travel as far as possible to H1N1 affected states". The advisory released as an advertisement in newspapers , is signed by the director, directorate of health services, Rajnanda Desai.
Speaking to TOI Desai said, " We have also advised people to avoid crowded places." She said tht due to the weekend holidays for Independence day and Ganesh Chaturthi , a number of tourists would be entering the state and flocking Ganesh Mandals, which the directorate was advising against.
"Mandals may get crowded and it would be difficult to curb the spread of the virus," said Desai.
The only state so far to ask it citizens not to travel to flu-hit areas has been Tamil Nadu, when a minister recently asked people not to travel to Maharashtra , leading to a controversy with the Maharashtra health minister questioning the one state's advisory against another and saying that if at all such a directive is needed to be issued, it should have come from the Centre. The Tamil Nadu minister later went on the defensive and claimed that all he said was that people should be careful while travelling in those areas.
Meanwhile, panic is leading to long ques at Chicalim Cottage hospital with 50-60 turning up for tests daily. This has forced the government to post two rapid response teams, comprising an epidemologist and microbiologist each, at the hospital. "People are scared. Many who do not have swine flu symptoms get upset when we do not collect their swab samples. Others get irritated but we counsel them and they understand," said health officials.
14 August, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Acquitals, inquest dams cop
Acquitals, inquest dams cop
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Police delay in registering cases, discrepancy in witness statements and hurt certificates, investigating officer's failure in visiting
the crime scene, stereo type recording of statements, panchnamas drawn at police station due to which panchas are unable to stand the test of cross examination, are prime reasons for majority of cases ending in acquittal in the courts.
Amidst allegations of a poor conviction rate, senior police officials after going through cases and interacting with public prosecutors and the director of prosecution arrived at some of the major reasons for acquittals in cases. They found that it is not just stock panchas and witnesses turning hostile, that are responsible for the cases falling in the court. The reasons were discussed at a workshop for police sub-inspectors of North Goa on Saturday.
Explaining the reasons for acquittals, especially in hurt cases, SP (traffic) Arvind Gawas said, "Delay in registering of FIR or medical examination of victim, discrepancy in hurt certificate, failure to get the accused medically examined and ascertaining the blood group of both victim and accused, failure to record statement of witnesses mentioned in complaint and delay in recovery of assault weapon and failure to ensure that it is sealed are some of the reasons for acquittals in hurt cases."
He said that few common errors such as failure to mention the kind of light used if the panchnama was drawn at night, failure to record the photographer's statement and attach photo negatives and converting a non cognizable case to a first information report without the court's permission leads to acquittal in court.
Further, SP (coastal security) O R Kudtarkar said that contradiction in the deposition of the witnesses and recording the witnesses' statement in a stereo type manner, besides failure to draw panchnama with due care are reasons for acquittal.
"If the investigating officer suspects that the witness may turn hostile, then he should ensure that the witnesses' statement is recorded u/s 164 (5) CrPC by a special magistrate. Also in a large number of cases, panch witnesses are not taken to the spot and the panchanama is actually prepared at the police station (by calling some stock panch witnesses) and as soon as circumstantial evidence is collected it has to be immediately deposited in the malkhana. But the same is invariably not done," added SP Kudtarkar.
The purpose of the workshop was to help newly recruited PSIs to understand the reasons for acquittals and ensure that they provide a consistent police response. SP (north) Bosco George said, "During my visits to police stations and on interacting with the new PSIs and going through their investigation and case papers, it was felt that they needed to be brushed up on the latest amendments and trained in proper documentation."
In the just concluded assembly session, the police had faced flak for a poor conviction rate. In 2005, out of the 2,119 cases registered under the Indian Penal Code, 1,316 cases were solved while 350 cases ended in acquittals or a discharge of the accused by the court.
It was a similar story in the following years, when in 2006, out of the 2,204 cases, 1,355 cases were detected while 247 saw acquittals or discharge of the accused. In 2007, of 2,479 cases, 1,616 cases were solved, while 137 cases were discharged by the court. In 2008 out of the 2,742 cases, 1,803 cases were solved and 33 cases ended in acquittals. Also in matka cases, two accused were convicted.
14 August, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Police delay in registering cases, discrepancy in witness statements and hurt certificates, investigating officer's failure in visiting
the crime scene, stereo type recording of statements, panchnamas drawn at police station due to which panchas are unable to stand the test of cross examination, are prime reasons for majority of cases ending in acquittal in the courts.
Amidst allegations of a poor conviction rate, senior police officials after going through cases and interacting with public prosecutors and the director of prosecution arrived at some of the major reasons for acquittals in cases. They found that it is not just stock panchas and witnesses turning hostile, that are responsible for the cases falling in the court. The reasons were discussed at a workshop for police sub-inspectors of North Goa on Saturday.
Explaining the reasons for acquittals, especially in hurt cases, SP (traffic) Arvind Gawas said, "Delay in registering of FIR or medical examination of victim, discrepancy in hurt certificate, failure to get the accused medically examined and ascertaining the blood group of both victim and accused, failure to record statement of witnesses mentioned in complaint and delay in recovery of assault weapon and failure to ensure that it is sealed are some of the reasons for acquittals in hurt cases."
He said that few common errors such as failure to mention the kind of light used if the panchnama was drawn at night, failure to record the photographer's statement and attach photo negatives and converting a non cognizable case to a first information report without the court's permission leads to acquittal in court.
Further, SP (coastal security) O R Kudtarkar said that contradiction in the deposition of the witnesses and recording the witnesses' statement in a stereo type manner, besides failure to draw panchnama with due care are reasons for acquittal.
"If the investigating officer suspects that the witness may turn hostile, then he should ensure that the witnesses' statement is recorded u/s 164 (5) CrPC by a special magistrate. Also in a large number of cases, panch witnesses are not taken to the spot and the panchanama is actually prepared at the police station (by calling some stock panch witnesses) and as soon as circumstantial evidence is collected it has to be immediately deposited in the malkhana. But the same is invariably not done," added SP Kudtarkar.
The purpose of the workshop was to help newly recruited PSIs to understand the reasons for acquittals and ensure that they provide a consistent police response. SP (north) Bosco George said, "During my visits to police stations and on interacting with the new PSIs and going through their investigation and case papers, it was felt that they needed to be brushed up on the latest amendments and trained in proper documentation."
In the just concluded assembly session, the police had faced flak for a poor conviction rate. In 2005, out of the 2,119 cases registered under the Indian Penal Code, 1,316 cases were solved while 350 cases ended in acquittals or a discharge of the accused by the court.
It was a similar story in the following years, when in 2006, out of the 2,204 cases, 1,355 cases were detected while 247 saw acquittals or discharge of the accused. In 2007, of 2,479 cases, 1,616 cases were solved, while 137 cases were discharged by the court. In 2008 out of the 2,742 cases, 1,803 cases were solved and 33 cases ended in acquittals. Also in matka cases, two accused were convicted.
14 August, 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Human Swine Influenza: a pandemic threat
Human Swine Influenza: a pandemic threat
CD Alert, Monthly Newsletter of National Institute of Communicable Diseases,
Directorate General of Health Services, Government of India
March- April 2009 Vol.12 : No.8
Special Issue: Human Swine Influenza: a pandemic threat
INTRODUCTION
Influenza (Flu) pandemics are caused by new influenza viruses that have recently adapted to humans and resemble major natural disasters both in terms of recurrence and magnitude. The influenza virus, known to be circulating as a pathogen in the human population since at least the 16th century is notable for its unique
ability to cause recurrent epidemics and global pandemics. Genetic re-assortments in the influenza virus cause fast and unpredictable antigenic changes in important immune targets leading to recurrent epidemics of febrile respiratory disease every 1 to 3 years, consistently necessitated the development of new vaccines. Each century has seen some pandemics rapidly progressing to all parts of the world due to emergence of a novel virus to which the overall population holds no immunity.
SWINE FLU IN PIGS
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses usually circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The
classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930. H3N2 influenza viruses began circulating among pigs from 1998. The H3N2
viruses initially were introduced into the pig population from humans. Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by
avian influenza, human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses and hence the pigs are known to be a mixing vessel. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can re-assort (i.e. swap genes)
and new viruses , a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses - can emerge leading to development of new novel strain for which human beings do not have no immunity. There are four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N1 and H3N2. However, most of the recently
isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.Swine flu virus spreads mostly through close contact among pigs and possibly from contaminated objects moving between infected and uninfected pigs. Symptoms of swine flu in
pigs can include sudden onset of fever, depression, coughing (barking), discharge
from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and going off feed.
SWINE FLU IN HUMANS
Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons having direct exposure to pigs. In addition, there have been sporadic cases of
one person spreading swine flu to others. Occasional human swine influenza virus
infection occurs every one to two years in the U.S., but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have been reported.
SWINE FLU OUTBREAK
Recently, human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been recently
reported in several countries. This is a novel influenza A virus that has not been identified in people before, and human-to-human transmission of the virus appears to be ongoing and thus represents a real pandemic threat. WHO has upgraded the phasing of pandemic influenza from Phase -3 to Phase - 5
A virus which infects humans, swine, birds, poultry and horses and other animals, but
wild birds are the natural hosts for these viruses. Influenza type A viruses are divided into subtypes and named on the basis of two proteins on the surface of the virus: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA. There are 16 known HA
subtypes and 9 known NA subtypes. Many different combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. . For example, an “H1N1” virus has an HA 1 protein and an NA 1 protein Only some influenza A subtypes (i.e., H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2) are currently in general circulation among people. Other subtypes are found most commonly in other
animal species.
Current Situation: The current situation regarding the outbreak of swine influenza
A(H1N1) is evolving rapidly. As on 29 April 2009, nine countries have officially reported 148 confirmed cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection. Of these, United States has reported 91 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death. Mexico has reported 26 confirmed human cases including seven deaths.
The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths -
Austria (1), Canada (13), Germany (3), Israel (2), New Zealand (3), Spain (4) and the United Kingdom (5). All these cases have history of travel to Mexico.
Unlike the experience in Mexico, the United States is currently reporting infection by the identical virus strain or less severe clinical spectrum of disease. Mexican health officials have reported several hundred suspect cases, including several deaths associated with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. In Mexico,
many patients have experienced rapidly progressive pneumonia, respiratory failure and
acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring mechanical ventilation.
INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE
Surveillance is the foundation of all efforts to understand and control influenza. The monitoring of influenza disease patterns is essential for identification of high risk groups, planning of prevention and response activities for complications
and for estimating the burden of disease in terms of health and economic impact.
It is important to use standardized case definitions that enable comparisons between different areas within a country and also between countries. There are two case definitions used by the influenza surveillance system:
1. Influenza-like illness (ILI) is defined (according to WHO criteria) as:
• Sudden onset of a fever over 38°C, AND
• Cough or sore throat, AND
• An absence of other diagnoses.
2. Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI):. For persons ≥ 5 years the definition for SARI is adapted from the WHO protocol on rapid response:
• Sudden onset of fever over 38°C, AND
• Cough or sore throat, AND
• Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, AND
• Requiring hospital admission
For children <5 years old: definition is adapted from the program for Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI):
Any child <5 years old clinically suspected of having Pneumonia or Severe/very Severe
Pneumonia and requiring hospital admission.
3. Confirmed case of influenza is defined as any
case with laboratory test results positive for influenza virus.
influenza virus.
CASE DEFINITION OF SWINE FLU IN HUMANS
A suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with acute febrile respiratory illness (fever ≥ 380 C) with onset.
*within 7 days of close contact with a person who is a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1 virus infection, or
* within 7 days of travel to areas where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza A(H1N1) cases, or
* resides in a community where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza cases.
A probable case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness who:
* is positive for influenza A, but unsubtypable for H1 and H3 by influenza RT-PCR or reagents used to detect seasonal influenza virus infection,
or
* is positive for influenza A by an influenza rapid test or an influenza immunofluorescence assay (IFA) plus meets criteria for a suspected case, or
*individual with a clinically compatible illness who died of an unexplained acute respiratory illness who is considered to be epidemiologically linked
to a probable or confirmed case.
A confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness with laboratory confirmed swine
influenza A (H1N1) virus infection at WHO approved laboratories by one or more of the following tests:
Real Time PCR
Viral culture
Four-fold rise in swine influenza A (H1N1) virus specific neutralizing antibodies.
OTHER DEFINITIONS
Close contact is defined within 6 feet of an ill person who is a confirmed, probable or suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection during the infectious period. Acute respiratory illness is defined as illness of recent onset with least two of the following: rhinorrhea or nasal congestion, sore throat, cough (with or without fever).
High-risk group for complications of influenza is defined as a person such as:
resident of institutions for elderly people and the disabled;
people with certain chronic health conditions (chronic heart or lung disease, metabolic or renal disease or immunodeficiencies);
elderly people and very young children. Infectious period: The infectious period for a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as 1 day prior to the onset of illness to 7 days after onset.
TRANSMISSION
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs.
Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns
and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs.
Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can
also occur. This is thought to occur in the same
way as seasonal flu which is mainly person-toperson
transmission through coughing or
sneezing by people infected with the influenza
virus.
Disease spreads very quickly among the population especially in crowded places.
Cold and dry weather enables the virus to survive longer outside the body than in other conditions and, as a consequence, seasonal epidemics in temperate areas appear in winter.
People may become infected by touching/handling something contaminated with
flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food.
Eating properly handled and cooked pork (at an internal temperature of ≥160°F) and pork products is safe.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of
regular human seasonal influenza like fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and cough. Some people have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
DIAGNOSIS OF SWINE FLU
For diagnosis of swine influenza A infection, respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer.
Sample Collection & Laboratory Diagnosis
Sample Collection and handling is same as for human avian flu or seasonal
influenza like illness (Refer CD Alert on AI).
Sample Collection: should be done by the treating doctor who is managing the case.
Preferred respiratory samples : nasopharyngeal swab and throat swab
Storage of Samples: all samples should be kept at 2-80C until they can be placed at -700C.
Transportation of Samples: Clinical samples should be transported on dry ice
in triple packaging. All samples should be labeled clearly and include patient’s
complete information and should be sent to NIV, Pune or NICD, Delhi within 24 hours
for further investigations.
Laboratory biosafety measures should be followed for collection, storage,
packaging and shipping of influenza samples.
Available Laboratory tests:
Rapid Antigen Tests: not as sensitive as other available tests.
RT-PCR
Virus isolation
Virus Genome Sequencing
Four-fold rise in swine influenza A (H1N1) virus specific neutralizing
antibodies. It is important to note that samples from all cases, once the Pandemic starts, are not required to be tested.
Important Contact Numbers:
Outbreak Monitoring Cell (Control Room,
NICD): 011-23921401 EMR Control room (Ministry of Health and
family Welfare: 011- 23061469
Important Websites:
www.mohfw.nic.in; www.nicd.nic.in
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
There is currently no vaccine available against human swine influenza. One has
to follow proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquettes.
Do’s and Don’ts:
Avoid close contact with people who are having respiratory illness.
Sick persons should keep distance from others.
If possible, stay at home, away from work,school, and public places when you are
sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief when coughing or sneezing.
If you have no tissue or handkerchief you should not clean the nose with the hands
but with the cuff of your shirt or clothes.
Washing your hands often with soap or alcohol based hand wash will help protect
from germs.
Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
Persons who develop influenza-like-illness (ILI) (fever with either cough or sore throat) should be strongly encouraged to selfisolate in their home for 7 days after the onset of illness or at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is
longer.
Persons who experience ILI and wish to seek medical care should contact their
health care providers to report illness (by telephone or other remote means) before
seeking care at a clinic, physician’s office, or hospital.
Persons who have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath should seek immediate
medical attention and report to the nearby hospital.
If ill persons must go into the community (e.g., to seek medical care) they should
wear a face mask to reduce the risk of spreading the virus in the community.
If a face mask is unavailable, ill persons needing to go into the community should
use a handkerchief or tissues to cover any coughing and sneezing.
Persons in home isolation and their household members should be given infection control instructions like frequent hand washing with soap and water; use of
alcohol-based hand gels (containing at least 60%alcohol).
When the ill person is within 6 feet of others at home, the ill person should wear a face mask, if available or handkerchief or tissues.
Household contacts who are well should:
o remain home at the earliest sign of illness;
o minimize contact in the community to the
extent possible;
o designate a single household family
member as the ill person’s caregiver to
minimize interactions with asymptomatic
persons.
Precautions for School children:
o Schools with a confirmed or a suspected case should be considered for closure.
o All school or childcare related gatherings should be cancelled and encourage
parents and students to avoid congregating outside of the school.
o Schools and childcare facilities should bar students for a time period to be evaluated on an ongoing basis depending upon epidemiological findings.
o Schools and childcare facilities should consult with their local or state health
departments for guidance on reopening. If no additional confirmed or suspected
cases are identified among students (or school-based personnel) for a period of 7
days, schools may consider reopening.
o Schools and childcare facilities in unaffected areas should begin to prepare
for the possibility of school or childcare facility closure.
Social Distancing Interventions:
o Large gatherings linked to settings or institutions with laboratory-confirmed
cases should be cancelled, for example a school event linked to a school with cases;
other large gatherings in the community may not need to be cancelled at this time.
o Additional social distancing measures are currently not recommended.
o Persons with underlying medical conditions who are at high risk for complications of influenza may wish to consider avoiding large gatherings.
SWINE INFLUENZA A (H1N1) VIRUS: BIOSAFETY GUIDELINES FOR LABORATORY WORKERS
Laboratory workers who may be processing or performing diagnostic testing on clinical specimens from patients with suspected swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, or performing viral isolation. Diagnostic laboratory work on clinical samples from patients who are suspected cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection should be conducted in a BSL2 laboratory. All sample manipulations should be done inside a biosafety cabinet.
Viral isolation on clinical specimens from patients who are suspected cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection should be performed in a BSL2 laboratory with BSL3 practices (enhanced BSL2 conditions).
Additional precautions include:
Recommended Personal Protective Equipment
(based on site specific risk assessment )
Respiratory protection – fit-tested N95
respirator or higher level of protection.
Shoe covers
Closed-front gown
Double gloves
Eye protection (goggles or face shields)
Appropriate disinfectants
o 70% Ethanol
o 5% Lysol
o 10% Bleach
All personnel should self monitor for fever and other symptoms of Swine influenza. Any illness should be reported to the supervisor immediately.
For personnel who had unprotected exposure or a known breach in personal protective equipment to clinical material or live virus from a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1), antiviral chemoprophylaxis with oseltamivir for 7 days after
exposure can be considered.
Waste disposal
All waste disposal procedures should be followed as outlined in the respective facility standard laboratory operating procedures.
ANTIVIRAL TREATMENT
Oseltamivir is the recommended drug both for prophylaxis and treatment.
Supportive therapy includes:
- IV Fluids.
- Parentral nutrition.
- Oxygen therapy/ ventilatory support.
- Antibiotics for secondary infection.
- Vasopressors for shock.
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen is prescribed for fever, myalgia and headache. Patient is advised to drink plenty of fluids. Smokers should avoid smoking. For sore throat, short course of topical decongestants, saline nasal drops, throat lozenges and steam inhalation may be beneficial.
- Salicylate / aspirin is strictly contra-indicated in any influenza patient due to its potential to cause Reye’s syndrome.
The suspected cases would be constantly monitored for clinical / radiological evidence of lower respiratory tract infection and for hypoxia (respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, level of consciousness).
Adult patients should be discharged 7 days after symptoms have subsided.
Children should be discharged 14 days after symptoms have subsided. The family of patients discharged earlier should be educated on personal hygiene and infection control measures at home; children should not attend school during this period.
ANTIVIRAL CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS
Prophylaxis is given to:
All close contacts of suspected, probable and confirmed cases. Close contacts include household /social contacts, workplace or school contacts, fellow travelers etc.
All health care personnel coming in contact with suspected, probable or confirmed cases
Oseltamivir is the drug of choice.
Prophylaxis should be provided till 10 days after last exposure (maximum period of 6 weeks)
By Weight:
For weight <15kg: 30 mg OD
15-23kg: 45 mg OD
24-<40kg: 60 mg OD
≥40kg: 75 mg OD
For infants:
< 3 months: not recommended unless situation judged critical due to limited data
on use in this age group
3-5 months: 20 mg OD
6-11 months: 25 mg OD
Close Contacts of suspected, probable and confirmed cases should be advised to remain at home (voluntary home quarantine) for at least 7 days after the last contact with the case. Monitoring of fever should be done for at least 7 days. Prompt testing and hospitalization must be done when symptoms are reported.
All suspected cases, clusters of ILI/SARI cases need to be notified to the State Health Authorities and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India (Director, EMR and Director, NICD)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.
Are there human infections with swine flu in India.?
In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. Central & State Health Authorities are monitoring the situation
Is this swine flu virus contagious?
CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people and between countries.
What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In
the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may
cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.
How does swine flu spread?
Spread of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way as that of seasonal flu. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected
by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick.
What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands frequently. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Avoid touching surfaces that may be contaminated
with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people having respiratory illness.
Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. The use of oseltamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses is recommended. Antiviral drugs fight against
the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster.
They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). They
are currently available with hospitals and are to be administered under supervision of clinicians.
How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possibly for up to 7 days following
onset of illness. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.
What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air.
How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent hand washing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
Currently available seasonal influenza vaccine does not protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcoholbased hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with people having respiratory illness.
If one gets sick with influenza, one must stay at home, away from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. However, if one is having any respiratory distress, one should report to a nearby hospital.
What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenzalike symptoms e.g. fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may contact their health care provider, particularly if
you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed. If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. If you become ill and experience any of the following
warning signs, seek emergency medical care.
In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids/eating food
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
...about CD Alert
CDAlert is a monthly newsletter of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) , Directorate General of Health Services, to disseminate information on various aspects of communicable diseases to medical fraternity and health
administrators. The newsletter may be reproduced, in part or whole, for educational purposes.
Chief Editor: Dr. R. K. Srivastava
Editorial Board: Dr. Shiv Lal, Dr. R. L. Ichhpujani, Dr. Shashi Khare, Dr. A. K. Harit
Guest Editor (Authors): Dr Archana Aravindan, Dr. Avdhesh Kumar, Dr Arti Bahl, Dr Shashi Khare
Publisher: Director, National Institute of Communicable Diseases, 22 Shamnath Marg, Delhi 110 054 Tel: 011-23971272, 23971060 Fax : 011-23922677
E-mail: dirnicd@bol.net.in and dirnicd@gmail.com Website: www.nicd.nic.in
Acknowledgement: Financial assistance by WHO/USAID is duly acknowledged.
CD Alert, Monthly Newsletter of National Institute of Communicable Diseases,
Directorate General of Health Services, Government of India
March- April 2009 Vol.12 : No.8
Special Issue: Human Swine Influenza: a pandemic threat
INTRODUCTION
Influenza (Flu) pandemics are caused by new influenza viruses that have recently adapted to humans and resemble major natural disasters both in terms of recurrence and magnitude. The influenza virus, known to be circulating as a pathogen in the human population since at least the 16th century is notable for its unique
ability to cause recurrent epidemics and global pandemics. Genetic re-assortments in the influenza virus cause fast and unpredictable antigenic changes in important immune targets leading to recurrent epidemics of febrile respiratory disease every 1 to 3 years, consistently necessitated the development of new vaccines. Each century has seen some pandemics rapidly progressing to all parts of the world due to emergence of a novel virus to which the overall population holds no immunity.
SWINE FLU IN PIGS
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses usually circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The
classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930. H3N2 influenza viruses began circulating among pigs from 1998. The H3N2
viruses initially were introduced into the pig population from humans. Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. Pigs can be infected by
avian influenza, human influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses and hence the pigs are known to be a mixing vessel. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can re-assort (i.e. swap genes)
and new viruses , a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses - can emerge leading to development of new novel strain for which human beings do not have no immunity. There are four main influenza type A virus subtypes that have been isolated in pigs: H1N1, H1N2, H3N1 and H3N2. However, most of the recently
isolated influenza viruses from pigs have been H1N1 viruses.Swine flu virus spreads mostly through close contact among pigs and possibly from contaminated objects moving between infected and uninfected pigs. Symptoms of swine flu in
pigs can include sudden onset of fever, depression, coughing (barking), discharge
from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and going off feed.
SWINE FLU IN HUMANS
Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with swine flu have occurred. Most commonly, these cases occur in persons having direct exposure to pigs. In addition, there have been sporadic cases of
one person spreading swine flu to others. Occasional human swine influenza virus
infection occurs every one to two years in the U.S., but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza have been reported.
SWINE FLU OUTBREAK
Recently, human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been recently
reported in several countries. This is a novel influenza A virus that has not been identified in people before, and human-to-human transmission of the virus appears to be ongoing and thus represents a real pandemic threat. WHO has upgraded the phasing of pandemic influenza from Phase -3 to Phase - 5
A virus which infects humans, swine, birds, poultry and horses and other animals, but
wild birds are the natural hosts for these viruses. Influenza type A viruses are divided into subtypes and named on the basis of two proteins on the surface of the virus: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA. There are 16 known HA
subtypes and 9 known NA subtypes. Many different combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. . For example, an “H1N1” virus has an HA 1 protein and an NA 1 protein Only some influenza A subtypes (i.e., H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2) are currently in general circulation among people. Other subtypes are found most commonly in other
animal species.
Current Situation: The current situation regarding the outbreak of swine influenza
A(H1N1) is evolving rapidly. As on 29 April 2009, nine countries have officially reported 148 confirmed cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection. Of these, United States has reported 91 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death. Mexico has reported 26 confirmed human cases including seven deaths.
The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths -
Austria (1), Canada (13), Germany (3), Israel (2), New Zealand (3), Spain (4) and the United Kingdom (5). All these cases have history of travel to Mexico.
Unlike the experience in Mexico, the United States is currently reporting infection by the identical virus strain or less severe clinical spectrum of disease. Mexican health officials have reported several hundred suspect cases, including several deaths associated with swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. In Mexico,
many patients have experienced rapidly progressive pneumonia, respiratory failure and
acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring mechanical ventilation.
INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE
Surveillance is the foundation of all efforts to understand and control influenza. The monitoring of influenza disease patterns is essential for identification of high risk groups, planning of prevention and response activities for complications
and for estimating the burden of disease in terms of health and economic impact.
It is important to use standardized case definitions that enable comparisons between different areas within a country and also between countries. There are two case definitions used by the influenza surveillance system:
1. Influenza-like illness (ILI) is defined (according to WHO criteria) as:
• Sudden onset of a fever over 38°C, AND
• Cough or sore throat, AND
• An absence of other diagnoses.
2. Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI):. For persons ≥ 5 years the definition for SARI is adapted from the WHO protocol on rapid response:
• Sudden onset of fever over 38°C, AND
• Cough or sore throat, AND
• Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, AND
• Requiring hospital admission
For children <5 years old: definition is adapted from the program for Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI):
Any child <5 years old clinically suspected of having Pneumonia or Severe/very Severe
Pneumonia and requiring hospital admission.
3. Confirmed case of influenza is defined as any
case with laboratory test results positive for influenza virus.
influenza virus.
CASE DEFINITION OF SWINE FLU IN HUMANS
A suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with acute febrile respiratory illness (fever ≥ 380 C) with onset.
*within 7 days of close contact with a person who is a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1 virus infection, or
* within 7 days of travel to areas where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza A(H1N1) cases, or
* resides in a community where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza cases.
A probable case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness who:
* is positive for influenza A, but unsubtypable for H1 and H3 by influenza RT-PCR or reagents used to detect seasonal influenza virus infection,
or
* is positive for influenza A by an influenza rapid test or an influenza immunofluorescence assay (IFA) plus meets criteria for a suspected case, or
*individual with a clinically compatible illness who died of an unexplained acute respiratory illness who is considered to be epidemiologically linked
to a probable or confirmed case.
A confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness with laboratory confirmed swine
influenza A (H1N1) virus infection at WHO approved laboratories by one or more of the following tests:
Real Time PCR
Viral culture
Four-fold rise in swine influenza A (H1N1) virus specific neutralizing antibodies.
OTHER DEFINITIONS
Close contact is defined within 6 feet of an ill person who is a confirmed, probable or suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection during the infectious period. Acute respiratory illness is defined as illness of recent onset with least two of the following: rhinorrhea or nasal congestion, sore throat, cough (with or without fever).
High-risk group for complications of influenza is defined as a person such as:
resident of institutions for elderly people and the disabled;
people with certain chronic health conditions (chronic heart or lung disease, metabolic or renal disease or immunodeficiencies);
elderly people and very young children. Infectious period: The infectious period for a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as 1 day prior to the onset of illness to 7 days after onset.
TRANSMISSION
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs.
Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns
and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs.
Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can
also occur. This is thought to occur in the same
way as seasonal flu which is mainly person-toperson
transmission through coughing or
sneezing by people infected with the influenza
virus.
Disease spreads very quickly among the population especially in crowded places.
Cold and dry weather enables the virus to survive longer outside the body than in other conditions and, as a consequence, seasonal epidemics in temperate areas appear in winter.
People may become infected by touching/handling something contaminated with
flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food.
Eating properly handled and cooked pork (at an internal temperature of ≥160°F) and pork products is safe.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of
regular human seasonal influenza like fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and cough. Some people have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
DIAGNOSIS OF SWINE FLU
For diagnosis of swine influenza A infection, respiratory specimen would generally need to be collected within the first 4 to 5 days of illness (when an infected person is most likely to be shedding virus). However, some persons, especially children, may shed virus for 10 days or longer.
Sample Collection & Laboratory Diagnosis
Sample Collection and handling is same as for human avian flu or seasonal
influenza like illness (Refer CD Alert on AI).
Sample Collection: should be done by the treating doctor who is managing the case.
Preferred respiratory samples : nasopharyngeal swab and throat swab
Storage of Samples: all samples should be kept at 2-80C until they can be placed at -700C.
Transportation of Samples: Clinical samples should be transported on dry ice
in triple packaging. All samples should be labeled clearly and include patient’s
complete information and should be sent to NIV, Pune or NICD, Delhi within 24 hours
for further investigations.
Laboratory biosafety measures should be followed for collection, storage,
packaging and shipping of influenza samples.
Available Laboratory tests:
Rapid Antigen Tests: not as sensitive as other available tests.
RT-PCR
Virus isolation
Virus Genome Sequencing
Four-fold rise in swine influenza A (H1N1) virus specific neutralizing
antibodies. It is important to note that samples from all cases, once the Pandemic starts, are not required to be tested.
Important Contact Numbers:
Outbreak Monitoring Cell (Control Room,
NICD): 011-23921401 EMR Control room (Ministry of Health and
family Welfare: 011- 23061469
Important Websites:
www.mohfw.nic.in; www.nicd.nic.in
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
There is currently no vaccine available against human swine influenza. One has
to follow proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquettes.
Do’s and Don’ts:
Avoid close contact with people who are having respiratory illness.
Sick persons should keep distance from others.
If possible, stay at home, away from work,school, and public places when you are
sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or handkerchief when coughing or sneezing.
If you have no tissue or handkerchief you should not clean the nose with the hands
but with the cuff of your shirt or clothes.
Washing your hands often with soap or alcohol based hand wash will help protect
from germs.
Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
Persons who develop influenza-like-illness (ILI) (fever with either cough or sore throat) should be strongly encouraged to selfisolate in their home for 7 days after the onset of illness or at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved, whichever is
longer.
Persons who experience ILI and wish to seek medical care should contact their
health care providers to report illness (by telephone or other remote means) before
seeking care at a clinic, physician’s office, or hospital.
Persons who have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath should seek immediate
medical attention and report to the nearby hospital.
If ill persons must go into the community (e.g., to seek medical care) they should
wear a face mask to reduce the risk of spreading the virus in the community.
If a face mask is unavailable, ill persons needing to go into the community should
use a handkerchief or tissues to cover any coughing and sneezing.
Persons in home isolation and their household members should be given infection control instructions like frequent hand washing with soap and water; use of
alcohol-based hand gels (containing at least 60%alcohol).
When the ill person is within 6 feet of others at home, the ill person should wear a face mask, if available or handkerchief or tissues.
Household contacts who are well should:
o remain home at the earliest sign of illness;
o minimize contact in the community to the
extent possible;
o designate a single household family
member as the ill person’s caregiver to
minimize interactions with asymptomatic
persons.
Precautions for School children:
o Schools with a confirmed or a suspected case should be considered for closure.
o All school or childcare related gatherings should be cancelled and encourage
parents and students to avoid congregating outside of the school.
o Schools and childcare facilities should bar students for a time period to be evaluated on an ongoing basis depending upon epidemiological findings.
o Schools and childcare facilities should consult with their local or state health
departments for guidance on reopening. If no additional confirmed or suspected
cases are identified among students (or school-based personnel) for a period of 7
days, schools may consider reopening.
o Schools and childcare facilities in unaffected areas should begin to prepare
for the possibility of school or childcare facility closure.
Social Distancing Interventions:
o Large gatherings linked to settings or institutions with laboratory-confirmed
cases should be cancelled, for example a school event linked to a school with cases;
other large gatherings in the community may not need to be cancelled at this time.
o Additional social distancing measures are currently not recommended.
o Persons with underlying medical conditions who are at high risk for complications of influenza may wish to consider avoiding large gatherings.
SWINE INFLUENZA A (H1N1) VIRUS: BIOSAFETY GUIDELINES FOR LABORATORY WORKERS
Laboratory workers who may be processing or performing diagnostic testing on clinical specimens from patients with suspected swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, or performing viral isolation. Diagnostic laboratory work on clinical samples from patients who are suspected cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection should be conducted in a BSL2 laboratory. All sample manipulations should be done inside a biosafety cabinet.
Viral isolation on clinical specimens from patients who are suspected cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection should be performed in a BSL2 laboratory with BSL3 practices (enhanced BSL2 conditions).
Additional precautions include:
Recommended Personal Protective Equipment
(based on site specific risk assessment )
Respiratory protection – fit-tested N95
respirator or higher level of protection.
Shoe covers
Closed-front gown
Double gloves
Eye protection (goggles or face shields)
Appropriate disinfectants
o 70% Ethanol
o 5% Lysol
o 10% Bleach
All personnel should self monitor for fever and other symptoms of Swine influenza. Any illness should be reported to the supervisor immediately.
For personnel who had unprotected exposure or a known breach in personal protective equipment to clinical material or live virus from a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1), antiviral chemoprophylaxis with oseltamivir for 7 days after
exposure can be considered.
Waste disposal
All waste disposal procedures should be followed as outlined in the respective facility standard laboratory operating procedures.
ANTIVIRAL TREATMENT
Oseltamivir is the recommended drug both for prophylaxis and treatment.
Supportive therapy includes:
- IV Fluids.
- Parentral nutrition.
- Oxygen therapy/ ventilatory support.
- Antibiotics for secondary infection.
- Vasopressors for shock.
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen is prescribed for fever, myalgia and headache. Patient is advised to drink plenty of fluids. Smokers should avoid smoking. For sore throat, short course of topical decongestants, saline nasal drops, throat lozenges and steam inhalation may be beneficial.
- Salicylate / aspirin is strictly contra-indicated in any influenza patient due to its potential to cause Reye’s syndrome.
The suspected cases would be constantly monitored for clinical / radiological evidence of lower respiratory tract infection and for hypoxia (respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, level of consciousness).
Adult patients should be discharged 7 days after symptoms have subsided.
Children should be discharged 14 days after symptoms have subsided. The family of patients discharged earlier should be educated on personal hygiene and infection control measures at home; children should not attend school during this period.
ANTIVIRAL CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS
Prophylaxis is given to:
All close contacts of suspected, probable and confirmed cases. Close contacts include household /social contacts, workplace or school contacts, fellow travelers etc.
All health care personnel coming in contact with suspected, probable or confirmed cases
Oseltamivir is the drug of choice.
Prophylaxis should be provided till 10 days after last exposure (maximum period of 6 weeks)
By Weight:
For weight <15kg: 30 mg OD
15-23kg: 45 mg OD
24-<40kg: 60 mg OD
≥40kg: 75 mg OD
For infants:
< 3 months: not recommended unless situation judged critical due to limited data
on use in this age group
3-5 months: 20 mg OD
6-11 months: 25 mg OD
Close Contacts of suspected, probable and confirmed cases should be advised to remain at home (voluntary home quarantine) for at least 7 days after the last contact with the case. Monitoring of fever should be done for at least 7 days. Prompt testing and hospitalization must be done when symptoms are reported.
All suspected cases, clusters of ILI/SARI cases need to be notified to the State Health Authorities and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India (Director, EMR and Director, NICD)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.
Are there human infections with swine flu in India.?
In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. Central & State Health Authorities are monitoring the situation
Is this swine flu virus contagious?
CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people and between countries.
What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In
the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may
cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.
How does swine flu spread?
Spread of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way as that of seasonal flu. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected
by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick.
What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands frequently. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Avoid touching surfaces that may be contaminated
with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people having respiratory illness.
Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. The use of oseltamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses is recommended. Antiviral drugs fight against
the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster.
They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). They
are currently available with hospitals and are to be administered under supervision of clinicians.
How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possibly for up to 7 days following
onset of illness. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.
What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air.
How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent hand washing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
Currently available seasonal influenza vaccine does not protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcoholbased hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with people having respiratory illness.
If one gets sick with influenza, one must stay at home, away from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. However, if one is having any respiratory distress, one should report to a nearby hospital.
What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenzalike symptoms e.g. fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may contact their health care provider, particularly if
you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed. If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. If you become ill and experience any of the following
warning signs, seek emergency medical care.
In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids/eating food
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
...about CD Alert
CDAlert is a monthly newsletter of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) , Directorate General of Health Services, to disseminate information on various aspects of communicable diseases to medical fraternity and health
administrators. The newsletter may be reproduced, in part or whole, for educational purposes.
Chief Editor: Dr. R. K. Srivastava
Editorial Board: Dr. Shiv Lal, Dr. R. L. Ichhpujani, Dr. Shashi Khare, Dr. A. K. Harit
Guest Editor (Authors): Dr Archana Aravindan, Dr. Avdhesh Kumar, Dr Arti Bahl, Dr Shashi Khare
Publisher: Director, National Institute of Communicable Diseases, 22 Shamnath Marg, Delhi 110 054 Tel: 011-23971272, 23971060 Fax : 011-23922677
E-mail: dirnicd@bol.net.in and dirnicd@gmail.com Website: www.nicd.nic.in
Acknowledgement: Financial assistance by WHO/USAID is duly acknowledged.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Goa Cops being transferred at behest of policitians
Cops being transferred at behest of policitians
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Between July 2 and July 10, the police department received four requests from PIs seeking transfers citing personal reasons. That is not
surprising, but what has raised eyebrows is the fact that all the applicants apparently went out of their way to clearly mention that there is no "compulsion" or "pressure" from anyone to seek transfer.
Details acquired under the RTI Act show that none of them had completed the minimum tenure of two years prescribed by the Supreme Court for police station in-charge. IGP KD Singh called the officers to the "orderly room" to discuss their applications on July 15 and the Police Establishment Board approved the transfers the following day. All the officers got the postings of their choice.
PI Tushar Vernekar, who had taken charge of Calangute police station as officer in charge on November 2007, asked to be relieved on July 10. The IGP said in his file noting that that Vernekar was a resident of Verem, Bardez, that he was the only son of the family. "His mother is 65 years old..." and he is not being able to take proper care of her since "most of the time he is busy at police station". Vernekar would prefer to work at airport immigration or anywhere in the Panaji area, the IGP's noting said. Vernekar got the posting of his choice.
PI Rajan Prabhudessai, who took over as in-charge of the Margao police station on May 19, 2008, filed his transfer application on July 8, 2009. The IGP noted his reason for seeking transfer: "It is a busy police station and he is not able to look after his wife and only child, therefore he wants to work at (a) less burdened police station. He has not been compelled by anyone for asking his transfer from Margao PS. He requested for transfer at Verna PS or Konkan railway PS." PI Rajan was later posted as PI Verna.
PI Santosh Dessai, who had completed just 15 months at Quepem police station, justified his transfer saying he has to bring his mother frequently for treatment to Margao and that due to the long distance it was difficult for him to look after her treatment. Quepem PS being close to his villageCuncolimit is difficult for him to function at the police station and requested for a posting anywhere in Margao sub-division. He was posted as Margao PS in-charge.
Similarly, PI D G Angle said his parents, who stay in Vasco, had health problems due to old age and asked for a transfer to the Vasco traffic cell. In his letter, the officer, who had been in charge of Maina Curtorim PS for last eight months, further wrote, "Moreover, being a local in Margao area also causes a lot of problem of working in the area where people are known to you. I have served last eight years in Margao division and due to the circumstances mentioned above prefer to be transferred and posted at Vasco traffic which at present is vacant". His wish too was granted.
Senior police officers claim that these letters were written at the behest of political leaders in an effort to override the requirements for transfer of officers in charge of police stations as laid down by the Supreme Court.
"Police officers who are not in the good books of politicians are often pressurised to seek transfer in this manner," said a senior police officer.
9 August 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: Between July 2 and July 10, the police department received four requests from PIs seeking transfers citing personal reasons. That is not
surprising, but what has raised eyebrows is the fact that all the applicants apparently went out of their way to clearly mention that there is no "compulsion" or "pressure" from anyone to seek transfer.
Details acquired under the RTI Act show that none of them had completed the minimum tenure of two years prescribed by the Supreme Court for police station in-charge. IGP KD Singh called the officers to the "orderly room" to discuss their applications on July 15 and the Police Establishment Board approved the transfers the following day. All the officers got the postings of their choice.
PI Tushar Vernekar, who had taken charge of Calangute police station as officer in charge on November 2007, asked to be relieved on July 10. The IGP said in his file noting that that Vernekar was a resident of Verem, Bardez, that he was the only son of the family. "His mother is 65 years old..." and he is not being able to take proper care of her since "most of the time he is busy at police station". Vernekar would prefer to work at airport immigration or anywhere in the Panaji area, the IGP's noting said. Vernekar got the posting of his choice.
PI Rajan Prabhudessai, who took over as in-charge of the Margao police station on May 19, 2008, filed his transfer application on July 8, 2009. The IGP noted his reason for seeking transfer: "It is a busy police station and he is not able to look after his wife and only child, therefore he wants to work at (a) less burdened police station. He has not been compelled by anyone for asking his transfer from Margao PS. He requested for transfer at Verna PS or Konkan railway PS." PI Rajan was later posted as PI Verna.
PI Santosh Dessai, who had completed just 15 months at Quepem police station, justified his transfer saying he has to bring his mother frequently for treatment to Margao and that due to the long distance it was difficult for him to look after her treatment. Quepem PS being close to his villageCuncolimit is difficult for him to function at the police station and requested for a posting anywhere in Margao sub-division. He was posted as Margao PS in-charge.
Similarly, PI D G Angle said his parents, who stay in Vasco, had health problems due to old age and asked for a transfer to the Vasco traffic cell. In his letter, the officer, who had been in charge of Maina Curtorim PS for last eight months, further wrote, "Moreover, being a local in Margao area also causes a lot of problem of working in the area where people are known to you. I have served last eight years in Margao division and due to the circumstances mentioned above prefer to be transferred and posted at Vasco traffic which at present is vacant". His wish too was granted.
Senior police officers claim that these letters were written at the behest of political leaders in an effort to override the requirements for transfer of officers in charge of police stations as laid down by the Supreme Court.
"Police officers who are not in the good books of politicians are often pressurised to seek transfer in this manner," said a senior police officer.
9 August 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
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