Centre strengthening measures to tackle swine flu

With an increase in cases of swine flu in the country, the Centre has directed the states to strengthen isolation facilities and critical care at the district level, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad informed the Rajya Sabha today.     

In reponse to a calling attention motion on the matter, he said Central and state rapid response teams, comprising doctors drawn from various streams, were ready to be deployed to manage community outbreak situations, if the need arises.     

Such teams were also undergoing refresher training courses, he said adding that over 100 swine flu cases have been confirmed so far in the country.     

Elaborating on the steps taken by the Centre to meet the situation, he added there was adequate quantity of Oseltamivir, the drug recommended by WHO for the viral infection. Ten million capsules were in the national stockpile and another six million were in stock with pharmaceutical companies.     

The minister said many of the travel-related cases could have been averted if the governments of the affected countries had followed exit screening at their airports.     

Azad added he took up the matter personally with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who issued necessary instructions the heads of Indian missions.     

He said the government is fully geared up to deal with the situation.

Azad said the Centre has directed states to strengthen isolation facilities and critical care at the district level. Central and state rapid response teams, comprising doctors drawn from various streams, were ready to be deployed to manage community outbreak situations, if any, he added.     

He assured the House that there was adequate quantity of Oseltamivir, the drug recommended by WHO for the disease.     

Azad said many of the travel-related cases could have been averted if the governments of the affected countries had followed exit screening at their airports.     

The minister added he took up the matter personally with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who issued necessary instructions to the heads of Indian missions.     

Earlier, members asked the government to take effective steps to check the spread of swine flu.     

M V Mysura Reddy (TDP) wanted to know what steps were being taken by the government and said that enough surveillance was not there at the airports.     

O T Lepcha (Sikkim Democratic Front) said people are still apprehensive about swine flu while C P Thakur (BJP) sought more doctors at airports.     

S S Ahluwalia (BJP), Moinul Hassan (CPI-M), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Mahendra Mohan (SP), Santosh Bagrodia and Sudarsana Natchiappan (both Congress) also participated in the discussion.