Swine flu: Azad says no need to panic

New Delhi, Jun 12 (PTI) With swine flu being declared
a pandemic, the Indian government on Friday said there was no
need for panic as all precautions have been taken to ensure
that the disease does not spread in the country.

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the number
of persons infected in the country is "too less and too small"
compared to its size and population.

"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.

The Minister, however, said it could not be a reason
for not taking any precaution.

His comments came a day after the World Health
Organisation declared the disease as a pandemic, raising its
alert to maximum 'level six' as more swine flu cases were
reported from across the world, including India.

In India, two more persons in Delhi and one in Goa
tested positive for swine flu yesterday, taking the total
number of such cases to 15.

"As a matter of fact we have already started taking
action on this right from day one and a number of precautions
have been already taken," Azad said.

On a request from the Health Ministry, the Government
has already asked its Missions in countries affected by swine
flu to urgently get in touch with the host governments to
ensure screening of outbound passengers.

Azad said the disease is 100 per cent curable. "Only
15 cases were reported in the country. Out of that five have
already been discharged.

"We are ready for any eventuality. That does not mean
we have to panic. It is not something that emanated from our
country. All the cases in the country emanated from the United
States," he said.

He also said that in future, the government is
planning to set up district level rapid response teams to deal
with such situations.

"We have a rapid response team at national level which
have doctors and scientists. We have already set up similar
response teams at state level also. In future, we will have
such teams at district level also," he said.

He said teams were already deployed at international
airports for screening incoming passengers.

Azad had recently written to External Affairs Minister
S M Krishna that the MEA should prevail upon affected nations
to start screening of passengers bound for India to cut down
on the export of the deadly virus.

"We expect a substantial inflow of our students
returning from vacation from affected countries. In this view
you are requested to take up the matter with the governments
of affected countries to do screening of out-bound passengers
at their airports," Azad had said in the letter. PTI SJY
SKT
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