Jaipur: Rajasthan agriculture minister Kirori Lal Meena tested positive for H1N1 influenza and was admitted to the intensive care unit of Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur late Tuesday night after developing breathing difficulty, fever and other flu-like symptoms. He is on oxygen support and under close medical supervision. SMS Medical College principal Dr Deepak Maheshwari said Meena required ICU care due to respiratory distress. “He requires oxygen support, which is why we have admitted him to ICU,” he said. A medical board has been constituted to oversee Meena’s treatment, while doctors are continuously monitoring his health parameters and managing the infection as per protocol. The development comes as the health department maintains heightened surveillance for seasonal diseases, including swine flu, dengue, malaria, chikungunya and scrub typhus. Officials said vigilance has been stepped up following a recent rise in swine flu cases in Delhi. Health and medical education minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar Tuesday reviewed measures for prevention and control of seasonal diseases and directed officials to strengthen surveillance and response mechanisms, particularly in high-risk areas. Khimsar instructed joint directors and chief medical and health officers to adopt a proactive approach and remain alert during the rainy season, when seasonal infections tend to increase. He also reviewed disease surveillance, availability of equipment and medicines, and testing facilities at medical institutions. Division-wise preparedness was assessed, with officials directed to ensure adequate testing and treatment services and intensify monitoring for swine flu across the state.
