Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday confirmed that India presently has 864 positive cases of swine flu, out of which 523 patients have been discharged from hospitals.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the Health Minister said that swine flu screening at airports would continue.
"Swine flu screening at airports will not stop. Thermal scanners will also be installed at all international airports," said Azad.
Referring to the involvement of private hospitals in the fight against swine flu, Azad said that private laboratories will also be allowed to conduct tests.
"Private laboratories will be allowed to conduct tests, and guidelines will be given to them for it," said Azad, adding that private laboratories would have to meet some minimum requirements to do the tests.
However, he added that Tamiflu won't be made available in retail stores as yet.
The Health Minister said that three Indian companies are working on the swine flu vaccine, but the vaccine will not be ready before December.
On the issue of closure of schools to prevent the spread of the virus among children, Azad said that closing schools was not a good idea, but the call has to be taken by the state governments.
The Health Ministry is slated to launch a new website on swine flu in the next two days, he further said.
