Centre fully equipped to deal with swine flu, says Azad

New Delhi, Aug 6 (ANI): Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, on Thursday, said the government is fully equipped to deal with the situation created by H1N1 influenza Azad said there is no shortage of either testing materials or medicines for the treatment of swine flu, and both the Centre and all the State Governments are fully geared to meet the challenge.

There is absolutely no need to panic because of single death, Azad added. He also urged the media not to sensationalize the matter.

Meanwhile, on Thursday nine more persons, including three schoolmates of deceased Reeda Shaikh, of St Anne's school were tested positive for the virus in Pune. With this the number of total positive H1N1 infections registered in the city now stands at 118.

Two other schools of Pune St Helena and Loyola have also reported one each positive case of the virus, said, Dr Ravindra Katti, State Health Department official.

The Maharashtra Government has promulgated the Epidemic Diseases Act in Pune and Satara districts. The Act empowers the district magistrates to take measures to prevent an outbreak of the disease, including stopping social gatherings.

Pune Municipal Corporation officials have conducted a meeting of all the school authorities in the city and briefed them about precautionary measures to be taken to prevent the spread of the virus.

Thousands of residents in Pune and Mumbai have rushed to the government hospitals for H1N1 influenza tests. Police had to be called to control the mob. The Health Department has instructed private clinics not to refer all cough and cold cases for a swine flu test.

On Wednesday, 12 suspected swine flu patients were quarantined at Mumbai's Kasturba Hospital.

The Rajasthan Government has introduced precautionary measures following the confirmation of four cases of swine flu in the state.

The Uttar Pradesh Government has constituted rapid response teams in all districts to treat swine flu patients.

The Tamil Nadu Health Department has issued a travel advisory, urging people from the state not to travel to Pune and Satara districts of Maharashtra. (ANI)