Swine flu: Centre to send three-member team to Telangana

A high-level team will be send to Telangana today by the Centre to review and provide assistance to the state where seven persons have died due to Swine flu and 27 others are undergoing treatment.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda, after reviewing the incidence of H1N1 cases, spoke to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and state Health Minister T Rajaiah today and assured logistics and medicines to fight the menace.
"A high-level three-member team is being sent to Telangana to review the situation and give necessary technical guidance to the state. The team will submit its report on return," according to an official statement said.

The team will hold a meeting with the state health authorities tomorrow to review the availability of medicines and diagnostics, arrangements at hospitals, clustering of cases, surveillance by IDSP, sufficiency of lab facilities.
"There is no need to panic. However, we must all be alert and take precautions to prevent further cases," Nadda said.
So far, seven persons have succumbed to the deadly disease in Telangana since January 1 this year.

As many as 27 people have tested positive for the H1N1 virus in Telangana and are presently undergoing treatment, while 35 cases are under observation for suspected influenza which is a seasonal flu virus found in humans and is contagious and can spreads when people cough or sneeze.

Nadda has also directed officials in his Ministry to be in constant touch with all the states to ensure that the situation is under control and to prevent further cases.
"The Centre will keep stock of medicines (Oseltamivir) for about 3,000 patients in addition to a stock of Personal Protective Equipment to meet the sudden requirement of any state government which has failed to procure the same," the Minister said.
In 2014, 88 cases of swine flu were reported in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Last year, 11 people reportedly died of the disease.