Rajahmundry, Aug 12th: The district health authorities have geared by setting up isolation wards in government hospitals, especially at the district headquarters hospital to quarantine all persons showing symptoms in both East and West Godavari districts. In all 18 air passengers, including five Australian nationals who traveled along with infected persons were quarantined in the Godavari district earlier. As a precaution, the health authorities are keeping stocks of anti-viral drugs including Tamiflu tablets, Osaltamivir 75 mg tablets and Chemoprophalxin tablets to treat persons if they show any symptoms of swine flu.

Persons having symptoms of continuous cough, sneezing, difficulty in breathing, loss of appetite, headache and diarrhea were advised to consult a doctor. In case the doctor suspects the symptoms to be that of swine flu, he will collect throat swabs and send them either to the National Institute of Communicable diseases in New Delhi or to the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Pune for analysis. Health authorities are also keeping track of air passengers who traveled along with HINI. So far in the district not a single case of swine flu was detected.