New Delhi, June 8
With the national capital confirming the second case of swine flu today, the total number of patients affected with influenza A (H1N1) across the country has risen to 11.
Today, the 60-year-old mother of the patient who had tested positive in Delhi yesterday complained of mild symptoms, and tested positive later. She caught infection from her 35-year-old son who had returned from New York two days ago, a health official said. “She in in home quarantine,” he said.
As of now, the government has Tamiflu stock to treat about a lakh cases, if ever. And there also is a national level response team comprising doctors representing various streams.
Presently, the team is stationed in Andhra Pradesh, which has the highest number of swine flu cases - seven. The health ministry also reviewed the situation today, reminding people of the travel advisory issued in April asking them to avoid travel to affected countries. Various states have been advised on clinical management, infection control and laboratory support. Stockpile of Tamiflu has been raised to 10 million and every state/UT has been given a stock of 2,000 capsules.
Five lakh proformas for screening have been given to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for their use at international airports and 200 ventilators have been distributed to central and state hospitals in vulnerable states.
Worldwide, the WHO has reported 139 deaths due to Swin flu. In India, 46,963 passengers have been screened; around 19,856 were from affected countries. About 221 doctors and 90 paramedics have been deployed to man 76 counters at the 21 international airports.
