Meerut: Just 14 days into January, as many as 33 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Meerut. With the number of cases shooting up, the health department authorities have set up more health camps across the district and are conducting awareness drives about this high contagious disease.“On Monday, the count of swine flu cases reached 33 in Meerut. Surveys at the house of those who were diagnosed as suffering from H1N1 virus are being conducted so that the people living in the neighbourhood too can be examined in case they have contracted the disease. The travel history and the people the patients came in contact with are also being scrutinized so that the root of the disease can be reached and contained,” said Dr Raj Kumar Chaudhary, Meerut chief medical officer.Meerut health department had demanded 1,000 vaccines for hospital staff. This was approved and the consignment of vaccines reached Meerut on Monday. Also, while Tamiflu tablets continue to remain in stock, the syrup stock is diminishing, officials warned.“We have placed an order for the Tamiflu syrup and it will reach us soon. When and if required, a demand for Tamiflu tablets will also be sent,” said Dr Chaudhary.Meanwhile, instructions have been given to reserve eight beds in PL Sharma Hospital and 20 beds in Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial (LLRM) Medical College for swine flu patients. The patients have to be kept in isolation so that others do not contract it.Active case finding is being done in the areas where swine flu cases have come to light. Several awareness camps are also being set up. The standard protocol to tackle swine flu is that once a case of swine flu is reported, the health authorities conduct a case mapping and at least 50 houses situated in proximity of the patient’s house are surveyed and checked in case anyone else has contracted the virus.

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