14 December,2009 07:49 AM IST | | Shashank Shekhar
H1N1 scare has closed down educational institutions in Ghaziabad; Students fear it may affect campus placements
Swine flu has returned and educational institutions in Ghaziabadu00a0- home to a number of MBA and technical collegesu00a0- have pressed the panic button.
With two students testing positive for the communicable influenza some institutions are closing down while others are contemplating to follow suit.
But, the biggest worry for the young scholars is that the flu may also scare away recruiters who arrive on campus this time of the year. Also, it may delay the internal exams and thus their degree.
Most of the college students share paying guest accommodation, which make them vulnerable to infection.
Hostels of Ajay Kumar Garg engineering college, IMS, INMANTEC and Sunderdeep Engineering College were closed after two positive cases of swine flu were detected. The IMS hostel is closed till December 21 and in Ajay Kumar Garg college till December 26 for the complete sanitization of the college compound.
"We are taking all possible action as per government instructions," said Prabal Chakervarti, Director, IMS.
"Since the second break of H1N1virus we have been asking colleges to take action. Though it will delay the placements this year but health is more important," said a final year student of Ajay Kumar Garg college.
While some other engineering colleges are still open, including Raj Kumar Goel institute of technology and JSS academy of technical education. According to the health experts, children and young people are more prone to H1N1 infection.
Meanwhile, the neighbouring national capital on December 12 recorded 190 new cases of swine flu, of which 109 were children, health officials said.
"Delhi recorded 190 new cases of swine flu on Saturday. Of this, 109 were children. The cumulative number of cases now stands at 7,209," said Anjana Prakash, the state assistant nodal officer for swine flu.
"Of the total number of people detected with influenza A (H1N1) in the capital till now, 4,244 are children," she added.
Centres for swine flu treatment
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
Ansari Nagar, Aurobindo Marg
Ring Road, New Delhi- 29
Ph- 91-11- 26594404, 26861698
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
22, Sham Nath Marg,
New Delhi- 54
Ph- 91-11- 23971272/060/344/524/ 449/326
Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute
University Enclave,New Delhi-07
Ph- 91-11- 27667102, 27667441, 27667667, 27666182
240
Swine flu casualties in Maharashtra
7,300
Number of infected people in Delhi
| Flu capital |
|
Delhi accounted for 50.7 per cent of India's confirmed H1N1 cases over the past week, shows Union health ministry data. |
