Modi Govt. invokes Epidemic Act, as 9 fresh cases of H1N1 reported

Ahmedabad, Aug.19 (ANI): Expressing concerned over the consistent rise in swine flu cases in different parts of the State, the Gujarat government on Wednesday opted to invoke the pidemic Act

Gujarat recorded nine fresh H1N1 infections on Wednesday.

State's Principal Secretary for Health, Ravi Saxena said: "We have invoked the Act and now can quarantine any person, use any building or hospital and ask for compulsory cleanliness in any part of the state."

With Wednesday's invocation of the Epidemic Act, Gujarat joined Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi who have already invoked the Act.

Once the Act is invoked, the state health authorities get powers to deal with the pandemic, Saxena said.

In last two days, 22 positive cases of the swine flu have been reported from various districts like Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Valsad and Gandhinagar besides Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat.

Meanwhile, with the fresh cases, the total number of H1N1 infections has risen to 67 in the Gujarat state where three persons, including an NRI, have succumbed to the viral disease. (ANI)