By Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, May 6: Following union health ministry’s pandemic alert in the state, Goa government has heightened the preventive measures and commissioned surveillance at airport, railway station and vigil on 85,000 pig population against the possible spreading of swine flu.
 
The government spokesman also said that a strict vigil has been kept on the pork meat entering Goa from Maharashtra and Karnataka borders.
 
The health screening has already began at Goa airport from April 29 onwards through the department of health services. “Besides this, the department of animal husbandry and veterinary services has sounded a statewide alert and monitored the movement of pigs which are around 85,000 in the entire state,” he said.
 
The pig farmers have been asked to maintain preventive management schedule in case of outbreak of virus in the state.
 
The directorate of health services has instructed all community health centres, primary health centres, district hospitals and other entities like private hospitals,  laboratories, general practitioners to step up the active surveillance and maintain vigil and to report immediately any influenze like illness in the community.
 
The state rapid response team consisting of state epidemiologist, senior physician and microbiologist have been instructed to investigate reports about rumours and reports of possible cases.
 
“Each and every suspected case is being investigated thoroughly by the rapid response team to rule out flu cases. The suspected cases of A H1N1 flu will be subjected to a throat swab sample, which will be sent to National Institute of Virology, Pune, for labouratory analysis and report.
 
The tourism department has issued a notice to the travel and tourism association of Goa as well as the federation of small and medium enterprises which represents the hotels in Goa, requesting them to be vigilant and to report if any cases of symptoms related to swine flu are noticed in any tourist.
 
He said that the state government run, Goa medical college has reserved two isolation rooms with one bed each having central oxygen and section with air condition facilities attached to medicine ward no 146 for any admissions required for suspected cases.