Swine flu spreads, Centre intensifies drive

People stand in a queue for swine flu infection test at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in Bangalore on Tuesday. (PTI)

IANS

First Published : 11 Aug 2009 12:00:00 AM IST

Last Updated : 11 Aug 2009 09:29:18 PM IST

NEW DELHI: A swine flu scare gripped India Tuesday as the contagious virus spread to newer areas and claimed three victims, taking the nationwide death toll in just nine days to 10.

A Malaysian coach taking part in an international badminton tournament in Hyderabad was the first known foreigner suspected to be infected with the disease that has triggered panic in some cities.

A worried Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad urged the chief ministers to take urgent steps to tackle the H1N1 disease that was unknown to India till the first case was reported May 16.

On Tuesday, a record 119 people were tested positive, with the virus spreading to cities like Jammu, Osmanabad, Nagpur, Nasik and Manipal.

Of the 1,079 positive cases in India, 589 have been discharged, health ministry officials said.

The latest swine flu victims were a 13-year-old girl in Pune, the worst hit city where five people have died, a 63-year-old woman in Mumbai, and a seven-year-old girl in Vadodara.

Azad, who has immersed himself in the war against swine flu, telephoned some chief ministers Monday night and some Tuesday morning to warn that complacency could lead to a disaster.

Officials said he discussed with them urgent measures needed to combat the spread of the virus that has affected 1,079 people in India.

He also met senior bureaucrats tasked to visit various state to help contain the spread of the virus that originated in Mexico and has sparked a global scare.

Even as Minister Azad held a high-level meeting in New Delhi, Shruti Gavde, who tested positive last Saturday, died in Pune's Sassoon Hospital, barely hours after pharmacist Sanjay Tilekar died there Monday night.

A student of A.D. High School in Pune, Shruti had been admitted to the hospital Sunday in critical condition.

In the Maharashtra capital Mumbai, Shahida Warsi died at a private hospital. "The deceased was from Thane and had been brought to Mumbai for treatment," said Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar.

She had been brought to Mumbai's Noor Hospital in Byculla five days ago for treatment.

In Gujarat's Vadodara city, a girl died in a government hospital after being under ventilator for two days. She had been brought in for treatment Aug 7, said Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas.

"The girl had no history of how she contracted the virus," Vyas said.

This was the second death reported in Gujarat on account of the swine flu. The first victim was NRI Pravin Patel, who came from Atlanta in the US and died Sunday.

After the two deaths in Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi called an all-party meeting Wednesday to discuss measures to prevent the disease.

Pune tops the list of casualties with five deaths followed by Mumbai (two) and one each in Ahmedabad, Chennai and Vadodara.

Of the 119 positive cases reported Tuesday, Pune, which has been declared the epidemic city, reported 62. It was followed by Mumbai where 24 new cases were recorded.

As more swine flu cases poured in, the Haj Committee advised the elderly, children and pregnant woman to avoid going for the Haj pilgrimage.

Hasan Ahmad, acting chairperson of the Haj Committee of India, said that pilgrims above the age of 65, those younger than 12 years and the pregnant should avoid the pilgrimage this year.

Saudi Arabia has issued similar instructions.

In New Delhi, Azad underlined the guidelines to help private labs and hospitals carry out tests and treat suspected patients.

The government had earlier insisted that all patients have to be tested and treated only in state-run hospitals but the enormity of the crisis has forced a change of mind.

Swine flu cast a shadow over the World Badminton Championship in Hyderabad, with the doubles coach of the Malaysian team showing symptoms of the viral disease.

Jeremy Gan has been quarantined at the Andhra Pradesh Chest Hospital, and his samples have been sent for testing, organisers of the event

With swine flu spreading panic, face masks are flying off the shelf at pharmacy shops in the national capital. Chemists say they are not getting fresh supplies that are being diverted to Pune.

The Chandigarh administration has decided to use the services of private hospitals to tackle swine flu.