New Delhi: As India deals with the international outbreak of swine flu, the message from the government in India is clear -- don't panic.
Tighter screening in the airports, special quarantine wards in every state and strict instructions to state governments to remain alert are among the major steps being taken by India.
India is still in the 'containment stage' classified as grade IV which means the spread of the virus is not out of control. The disease can be tracked, screened and treated since the community will come out and report cases.
- India in 'containment stage'
- Swine flu spread not out of control
- Disease can be tracked and cured
The latest patient to be infected is a six-year old girl who came from the US on holiday. She is now in quarantine at a time when another six-year old is out of hospital completely cured of the virus.
In all India has 16 swine flu cases, five people have been discharged after they responded to medication and the overall situation is not bad so far. In fact, in Andhra Pradesh eight cases have been reported -- half the number of cases in the country.
The government says India is well stocked with Tamiflu medication to deal with a large outbreak and the government will not resort to forced isolation of patients just yet.
In order to ensure better screening of passengers, the government has decided to install thermal scanners at airports to detect people who were entering the country with fever.
"The scanners would be installed at the Delhi airport first and later at other airports," Vineet Chaudhary, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry said.
The government has also asked Indian missions abroad to tell people having symptoms of swine flu to defer travelling to India.
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.
World combats swine flu
While the situation in India is not too bad at the moment, in several countries such as the US and Australia, the outbreak of swine flu has already claimed several lives.
Here's a look at just how bad the situation is around the world.
United States of America, New York
- There have been 13,217 confirmed cases, and 27 deaths
- The US accounts for nearly half of the world's swine flu cases
- Of the 27 swine flu deaths reported throughout the United States, 15 have been in New York City
Australia, Sydney
- There have been 1,336 cases of swine flu in Australia
- It is the 5th largest outbreak in the world
- The national pandemic status in Australia remains fixed at "contained''
UK, London
- So far, 822 confirmed cases of swine flu in Britain
- UK considering closure of schools in autumn to prevent its spread
- They have enough anti viral drugs to cover half the population
Europe, Paris
- 488 cases in Spain
- 90 cases in Germany, some schools shut down in Dusseldorf, Munich, Cologne
- 80 cases in France, the alert level is still at 5
In France, high level of vigilance from the start may have so far help keep the spread of the virus in check but neighbouring UK and Spain have high number of cases. Accepting that virus spread impossible to contain, health authorities are preparing for a rise in number of cases and encouraging people to report the symptoms to health authorities. (With PTI inputs)