The Hindu : National : Swine flu: 16 laboratories to be activated

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 09, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Swine flu: 16 laboratories to be activated

Aarti Dhar

NEW DELHI: With the number of A (H1N1) influenza cases showing a steady increase over the past few days due to human to human transmission, the Union government on Monday decided to activate 16 more laboratories and further strengthen screening at the international airports.

It is also learnt that the government will write to the Indian missions abroad to impress upon their respective governments to screen passengers at the departure point itself and anyone detected with influenza symptoms be prevented from travelling.

“We are worried about the situation but there is no reason for panic,” Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters here after a meeting that reviewed the flu situation in the country. .

“Enough Tamiflu stock”

Mr. Azad said 16 laboratories across the country would be activated within a week for testing A (H1N1) cases. As of now, only two laboratories — the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Delhi and the National Virology Institute (NIV) in Pune — had facilities for testing such cases. There was enough stock of Tamiflu.

The number of positive A (H1N1) cases has touched 11, with two cases reported from the National Capital. Two cases were reported from Coimbatore and the remaining from Hyderabad.

States have been advised on clinical management, infection control and laboratory support. Stockpiling of Tamiflu was raised to 10 million and every State and Union Territory given a stock of 2,000 capsules.

Two hundred ventilators have been procured and distributed to Central government hospitals and State hospitals in vulnerable States.

Mr. Azad said the government had decided to issue another advisory asking people to avoid unnecessary travel to the affected countries and approach the public health authorities in case of any flu-like symptoms.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National