Uttar Pradesh health department placed on alert due to rising flu cases

The Uttar Pradesh government has placed the health department on alert following a rise in seasonal flu cases across the state. Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak conducted a video conference with medical officers to review hospital preparedness.

Pathak instructed officials to ensure adequate stocks of essential medical resources, including Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), oxygen, nebulizers, oxygen masks, and bronchodilators. To manage the situation, he directed hospitals in high-case districts to operate separate outpatient departments (OPDs) for respiratory complaints to expedite treatment and reduce crowding.

Additionally, the Deputy Chief Minister ordered the creation of dedicated registration counters for fever and flu patients to minimize wait times. He also mandated that district and joint hospitals maintain four to six isolation beds for severe cases and ensure that all serious patients presenting with breathing difficulties undergo flu testing.