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New Delhi: The World Health Organisation on Thursday declared a swine flu pandemic, the first global flu epidemic in 41 years, as infections in the US, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere climbed to nearly 30,000 cases. Officials in India, which has so far reported 15 cases, said there was no reason to panic while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon cautioned governments “against rash and discriminatory actions such as travel bans or trade restrictions”.
The H1N1 pandemic announcement is scientific confirmation that a new flu virus is quickly circling the globe — the last pandemic was the Hong Kong flu in 1968 when virus killed an estimated 1 million worldwide. WHO will now ask drugmakers to speed up production of a swine flu vaccine. The declaration will also prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus.
In New Delhi, National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) Director Dr Shiv Lal said: “The WHO has declared it pandemic keeping in view the overall situation. India has so far reported only fifteen cases, so there is no need to panic.”
Four more cases tested positive today and five suspected cases were reported, three in Delhi, one each in Bangalore and Goa. While sample testing is done in two laboratories — NICD, Delhi and National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune — another fifteen laboratories were being strengthened for virus detection.
Health Secretary Naresh Dayal said: “We have enhanced the stock pile of Tamiflu from one million to 10 million. We have also made an arrangement with producers to keep a buffer stock of 6 million. So at any given time, we will have 16 million Tamiflu. We will soon have a vaccine.”
Phase 6 calls for strict surveillance. “The virus has spread to more regions, now there are more people and countries affected by the virus. It is necessary to screen people carefully. We need to have good surveillance at all points and be on the lookout for clusters showing flu-like symptoms,” said Dr Randeep Guleria, Professor of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
On Thursday, 44,238 passengers were screened at airports in the country. Of these, 26,262 were from affected countries. As many as 223 doctors and 93 paramedics are manning 76 counters at airports. To speed up monitoring, the Health Ministry has procured digital ear thermometers and is looking at the feasibility of thermal scanners.
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