SRINAGAR
SKIMS authorities have confirmed two more H1N1deaths on Thursday.
In a brief statement issued tonight, SKIMS said they have set up a separate OPD for patients with respiratory symptoms in the Sarai building. This, the spokesperson said, was done to segregate patients with respiratory symptoms from other patients attending OPD and reduce cross infection. The facility of taking samples of H1N1 patients has been established there only.
Besides, an intensive care six bedded isolation facility with two mechanical ventilators stands established at SKIMS main hospital. A 32 bedded isolation facility has already been established for patients suspected of having H1N1 at SKIMS. More such beds will be created if further need arises.
The spokesperson said four patients stand admitted in isolation facility out of which one patient is on Ventilator support. Thirteen patients have been tested positive today for H1N1 who had mild symptoms and were provided treatment and sent back home.
The spokesperson, however, offered no details about the identity of the deceased.
SKIMS, so far, the only facility that can manage H1NI, had skipped sharing information about the crisis to the extent that two patients died in its two ICUs. Earlier, as well two more deaths had taken place. It was only under intense media pressure that SKIMS started acting and taken the crisis seriously even though it has been receiving cases since October 2014.
Asking people to avoid panic, doctors have told individuals attending the H1N1 positive patients at home to use double simple masks if N95 masks are not available.