Given the rising cases of swine flu, the district health department has started screening patients at government hospitals. Over the past 15 days, over 28,000 patients have been screened for swine flu. Senior officials said there were 16 deaths from swine flu this year in the district.A workshop was held recently where doctors in the private sector were apprised of the treatment protocol for epidemic diseases like swine flu, dengue and scrub typhus. Deputy director of health services Ratna Ravkhande, civil surgeon Suresh Jagdale, additional civil surgeon Pramod Gunjal and president of Indian Medical Association, Nashik, Avesh Palod led the workshop.Officials said 65,602 patients have been screened since January in the district. This helps start treatment promptly. Private medical practitioners were being made aware of rising cases of swine flu and given instructions on how to distinguish those suffering from the condition from patients with cold and fever.Doctors were informed that in many cases, Tamiflu tablets for patients suffering from swine flu was started on the fourth or fifth day, when it should have been started on the very next day, if the fever did not subside. Doctors were also informed about the symptoms of swine flu, dengue and other epidemic diseases.Ratna Ravkhande, deputy director of health department, said Tamiflu tablets were now available in all drug stores. Earlier, there were restrictions on their sale and they were only sold at Schedule H drug stores. With the wider availability, swine flu can be brought under control if diagnosis is early enough, she said. tnn

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