HYDERABAD: Health authorities in Andhra Pradesh are putting in place a ‘Business Contingency Plan’ (BCP), after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a swine flu pandemic, even as a six-year-old girl who returned from New York tested positive.

With the latest case, the total number of flu positive cases rose to eight in the State capital, out of which two patients are being treated at the Government Chest Hospital, while six have been discharged after treatment.

The six-year-old girl, whose name was withheld, is now in the isolation ward with her grandfather, who volunteered to be with her. He is also being given medication.

Four more patients who have been isolated are awaiting reports from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), which are expected by Saturday. Authorities have already prepared the BCP as Hyderabad had reported half the flu positive cases in the country and the level of preparedness is to be further scaled up in view of the emerging situation.

Under the BCP, all the government departments, including the non-health ones, would be roped in to tackle the situation.

“The situation has not worsened in Hyderabad. Yet it is better to be prepared to meet any emergency,” State Health Secretary L.V. Subramaniam said. With the WHO declaration, authorities have made it mandatory for all inbound passengers at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), the gateway for swine flu, to undergo medical tests.

The BCP, officials said, aims to issue directions to all private practitioners, nursing homes and private hospitals to report influenza like illness.

Services of professional organisations like the IMA and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics would be roped in and a 24-hour call centre for disease surveillance would also be part of the BCP.

Authorities here fear a more virulent form of A (H1N1) virus during monsoons and winter, when temperatures are ideal for the virus to spread.

“The virus is definitely benign at the moment. But, because the incidence of cases is more here, we feel that a BCP should be in place,” said Superintendent of Chest Hospital S. V. Prasad.

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