Coaching centres under vigil to check swine flu

CHANDIGARH - After directing schools to screen every child for Influenza A (H1N1), health authorities have decided to check coaching institutes for students with swine flu symptoms, an official said here Thursday.

“We have already told coaching institutes to bar students with flu-like symptoms from attending classes. Now our officials will conduct surprise raids at regular intervals to ensure that all the institutes are strictly adhering to the guidelines,” Ram Niwas, home and health secretary, said here.

Meanwhile, one more swine flu patient succumbed to the virus late Wednesday here. With the latest casualty, the toll in this city has touched seven.

“The deceased was identified as 50-year-old Prem Lata, a resident of neighbouring Mohali town. Earlier, she was admitted to a private hospital but was shifted here Tuesday,” said a health official.

The health department has quarantined nearly 20 relatives of the deceased woman at their homes.

So far, 128 positive cases of influenza A (H1N1) virus have been detected in Chandigarh hospitals. Out of these over 60 patients were students studying here at various educational institutes.