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How is India Inc battling swine flu?

Aug 11th 2009

Companies like Tata AIG Life Insurance and Godrej have already started fumigating their offices and distributing masks

Corporates who resumed duty yesterday morning were understandably jittery after Mumbai's first swine flu death was reported over the weekend. Predictably, HR departments and medical reps swung into action to ensure employee wellbeing.

Fumigation

At the Tata AIG Life Insurance offices at Lower Parel, fumigation will take place within the week. According to corporate communication head Subhayu Mishra, the frequency of cleaning public facilities such as toilets has been increased.
"We are also in the process of acquiring masks and gloves for our staff. Initiating training in the detection of symptoms will be rolled out for all 8,000 employees across India.

We have also set up an Incident Management Team that is coordinating the situation by staying in constant touch with doctors and taking advice on what steps need to  be implemented in the workplace as the situation develops," he said.

Sanitisers

At Hutchison 3 Global Services in Malad that employs over 7,000 employees at its Mumbai office alone, the in-house doctor has now been given a thermal temperature sensor gun to screen people with fever.

"Sanitising gels have also been placed at every entrance and all employees have to use this when they get in," said a source in the company.
 
Furthermore, all work tabletops, canteen tables, phones, headsets and door handles are being disinfected.

Similar stories were echoed at other corporate houses. At the Four Seasons Hotel in Worli, masks, sanitisers and medication are on hand for the 300 staff members should anyone require them.

At Godrej Industries in Vikhroli, visitors arriving from outstation trips have been cautioned.

"All employees who have returned from affected areas have to be checked by the company physician before they report for duty," said Praful Bhat, executive vice president (HR), Godrej Industries Limited.

No Insurance

Swine flu is not covered by health insurance policies yet. "There is a lot of ambiguity, but since we have had no instructions yet, we continue to assume that it is not covered at the moment.

Also, treatment is free at government hospitals so there is no question of recovered costs," said an agent from Colaba.



Flu Update

33 more cases were confirmed positive in Mumbai yesterday, taking the count to 81

Swine flu deaths across the world

A country-wise breakdown of deaths:

India - 8
United States of America - 436
Argentina - 338
Brazil - 180
Mexico - 149
Chile - 97
Australia - 92
Thailand - 81
Canada - 64
United Kingdom - 41
Peru - 40
Malaysia - 32
Costa Rica - 27
Paraguay - 27
Uruguay - 25
Ecuador- 22
Colombia - 17
New Zealand - 14
Bolivia - 12
El Salvador - 12
Guatemala - 10
Philippines - 9
Singapore - 9
Spain - 8
Saudi Arabia - 8
Honduras - 6
Israel - 5
Dominican Republic - 5
Jamaica - 4
Hong Kong - 3
Indonesia - 3
South Africa, Panama, Venezuela and Samoa - 2 each Taiwan, Vietnam, Netherlands, France, Brunei, Ireland, Egypt, Lebanon, Laos, Belgium, Hungary, Cayman Islands, Palestinian Territories, Iraq, Qatar, Tonga, St Kitts and Nevis and Ghana - 1 each

Bangalore reacts
The first two cases of the H1N1 have been confirmed in Bangalore and the city is slowly reacting. Frank Anthony Public School on Cambridge Road bore the brunt of media attention as the first recorded case is a student there. The other victim is a 13-year student of National Public School.
 
Schools react
Parents outside the school expressed mixed feelings about the flu. Lionnel A Coulter who has two sons in 7th and 8th standard said that he "would not be afraid to send his kids to school", on the other hand Geraldine Philips who has a daughter at the school said that she is "afraid because the school is closed through Friday and her daughter will have to go to work with her now."
While an earlier message sent to parents of children at Frank Anthony Public School reported that the

school would remain open, they have now announced that the school is to remain closed till the 17th. Students at the nearby St Meera's school said that they "are very scared of getting sick". A parent at the school said, "the school does not know what to do and neither do I."
Pharmacies react:
While other countries are quickly handing out treatment for the swine flu virus, pharmacies in the city shake their head and pay little attention when asked about the drug.

When asked whether they stocked or would now be interested in stocking Tamiflu or Relenza, they responded mostly in the negative.

Sai Health Pharmacy on 8th Cross, Thippasandra gave us a blunt, "No!" while Maya Medical, also at Thippasandra told us clearly that they weren't interested. "Not now, but if the demand grows, then yes," said Arihant Medicals on Cambridge Road.
Govt hospital keeps mum:
A spokesperson from the Government hospital on Cambridge Road declined to comment.