Swine flu cases rise to 30; Health Minister reviews situation

In Punjab, seven students in Jalandhar, who returned from the United States, tested positive for swine flu, taking the total number of people affected by the virus across the country to 30. According to government, 31 children who returned from USA are being monitored at Jalandhar, 10 of whom who developed symptoms of mild influenza like illness have been isolated at the civil hospital in Jalandhar and put on medication. The Central Rapid Response team has already been deputed and the requisite quantity of Tamiflu has already been provided to the district authorities.
The Union Health Minister Mr Ghulam Nabi AzadGhulam Nabi Azad reviewed the state of preparedness to tackle the spread of Influenza A (H1N1) virus. Mr Azad asked the Health Ministry officials to make sure that adequate quantities of Tamiflu are available in the government hospitals even at the district level in case of necessity.
Mr Azad expressed concern over the spread of flu to the smaller towns in the context of reports of infection in a group of children arrived in Jalandhar in Punjab yesterday after visiting USA. The Director General of Health Services, has been asked to immediately send a Rapid Response Team to the State and make available adequate quantities of Tamiflu to help contain spread of the disease.