Centre's Full Support To Telangana To Fight H1N1

In view of the cases and deaths from the H1N1 influenza (swine flu) reported from Telangana, Union Health Minister J P Nadda reviewed the situation.

The minister assured full support to the state by way of logistics and medicines to supplement its efforts to manage the outbreak.

As part of this, the Health Minister stated that he had spoken today with Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and Deputy CM (and Telangana Health Minister) Dr T Rajaiah on the incidence of H1N1 cases in the state.

He also reviewed the situation with the state Health Secretary.

The Union Health Minister informed that a high level three-member team was being sent to Telangana to review the situation and give necessary technical guidance to the state.

The team would leave today and hold a meeting with the state health authorities tomorrow covering the availability of medicines and diagnostics, arrangements at hospitals, clustering of cases, surveillance by IDSP, sufficiency of lab facilities, preventive measures and IEC campaign. The team will submit its report upon return.

The minister informed that he had directed the officials in the ministry to be in constant touch with all the states to ensure that the situation stayed under control and to prevent further cases. He added that the central government would keep stock of a critical medicine (Oseltamivir) for about 3,000 patients in addition to a stock of Personal Protective Equipment to meet the sudden requirement of any state government which had failed to procure the same.

The Health Minister said, "There is no cause to panic. However, we must all be alert and takes necessary precautions to prevent further cases." (INN)