New Delhi, Sep 17 : With less than a fortnight left for Commonwealth Games and Delhi still reeling under dengue and swine flu outbreak, India on Friday issued a health advisory for participants and visitors coming for the event asking them to take precaution, including carrying of full-sleeve clothes.
However, the advisory, issued by the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, maintained that the influenza activity has now "peaked" in India and is showing "a declining trend".
Noting that WHO had announced that H1N1 influenza pandemic has moved into post-pandemic stage while localised outbreaks of various magnitude are likely to continue, it said anyone who contracts pandemic flu during the Games will be given access, free of charge, to consultation, diagnosis and treatment in government-notified health facilities.
The advisory asked the visitors to ascertain their vaccination status and carry the records, though H1N1 vaccination was not made mandatory.
Advising them to look for symptoms such as fever, running nose, sore throat and difficulty in breathing, it said, "If suffering from fever while on flight, contact on arrival the Help Desk at the Delhi International Airport for assistance."
The advisory also asked the visitors to take precautions like covering of mouth and nose during coughing or sneezing, washing of hands with soap, avoiding touching the eyes, nose or mouth and avoiding crowded places.
As per reports, there have been nearly 2316 deaths due to H1N1 across the country since May last year. In this season, samples from 1,72,832 people have been tested for Influenza A H1N1 in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country and 41,234 (23.8 per cent) of them have been found positive.
On dengue, the advisory said that about 40 per cent of the world's population live in areas where there is a risk of dengue transmission. Besides carrying full-sleeve clothes, the advisory asked the visitors to bring mosquito repellent creams, oils, mats or coils. There have been over 2100 cases of dengue so far in the national capital. PTI
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