India can handle Swine Flu, but be cautious: Azad

New Delhi, Jun 12: In the wake of the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the Swine Flu as a pandemic and the confirmed cases of the flu on a raise in India, the Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday, Jun 12 asked Indians not to panic as India is prepared to face the pandemic.

"I don't think there is any need for panic. So far our country is concerned...in view of the size and population of the country, the number of persons infected is too less and too small," he said. However, he made it clear that people must not take it lightly and take all the precautions necessary to avoid contracting the illness.

India confirmed its 16th case of the Swine Flu or the H1N1 Influenza on Friday, Jun 12, with a six-year-old girl who had arrived here from the US testing positive for the virus. The girl returned with her parents and her six month old brother from New York on Jun 9.

The girl has been quarantined and is being treated at the Andhra Pradesh Chest Hospital. While the test results of the parents have turned out to be negative, the results of the girl's brother are still awaited.

OneIndia News