| Submit your comments on this article |
| Science & Technology |
| Human 'Fever' Outbreak In West Bengal Avian Flu Epicenter |
| 2008-01-20 |
| (Via Avian Flu Diary Blog) Margram, January 19: At Margram, the epicentre of bird flu, hundreds of villagers throng primary health centres everyday for Tamiflu only to be sent back with antibiotics and syrups. Tamiflu is a rare commodity not only in Government health centres but also at private chemists. And with a number of health staff opting out of the door-to-door survey because they have not been paid their allowances, quacks have a field day making a fast buck. "At present we are giving Tamiflu only to Animal Resources Department staff and health surveyors, who are visiting villages. There is nothing to worry as this disease rarely affects humans. Regarding health surveyors, there was a problem with their allowance but this was due to bureaucratic tangles," said Sunil Kumar Bhowmik, Chief Medical Officer, Birbhum. Everyday at Margram primary health centre on an average 120 patients visit the Out Patients Department of whom around 80 to 90 people have fever. At Bosua Block primary health centre, 220 patients visit the OPD daily and the fever frequency is between 150 to 170. But in neither of the places-the only Government-run health care facilities-Tamiflu is to be found. At Margram centre, pharmacists hand out antibiotics and syrups and send the patients back home. "What can we do? Many are coming here with high fever. The doctors are busy at the bird flu control room at the BDO office. We had asked for Tamiflu, but the authorities declined the request. Therefore, we are treating patients for simple fever with common drugs." The virus is now appearing in 5 districts. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |