AMU says eight swine flu cases in campus

AMU authorities today said that eight confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported from the university's community, thus justifying the suspension of all classes and academic activity at the campus till February 25.
Aligarh Muslim University, in a statement, today said that eight confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported from the campus.
However, Chief Medical Officer of the district, Dr A K Rai said that the cases reported by AMU cannot be considered as "confirmed".
Rai said that according to official manuals, a case can be considered confirmed only if this test is conducted in a government laboratory.

AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah, who is facing flak from a section of the AMU community for suspending all classes and academic activity at the campus till February 25, said it was regrettable that some sections of the university community have attributed ulterior motives behind the decision.
He said the decision has been taken as a precautionary measure.

Apart from these eight cases, one undergraduate girl student had died from swine flu last week.
Leaders of AMU Teachers' Association and some members of the University Court had yesterday criticised the Vice Chancellor's decision for postponing the annual general meeting of the AMU Court earlier scheduled for February 21.

They had alleged that the VC, under the pretext of swine flu, postponed the meeting of the Court which was to elect University's next Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor and Honorary Treasurer.
Gen Shah, however, maintained that the decision to suspend academic activity and gatherings was taken purely on the advice
of the university health authorities to prevent a large scale outbreak of swine flu.
"A decision had been taken in the broader interests of the student community," he said.
"Those who are in the race to garner offices in the AMU Court and Executive Council meetings which have been postponed, should realise that the broader interest of the student community and give it priority over their personal ambitions," he said.

The Vice Chancellor said that the annual general meeting of the AMU Court will now be held on April 11 next and those who wish to contest for different posts including Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Honorary Treasure, and six members on the Executive Council, should bear with this delay and show some restraint for few more weeks.