India vigilant after Swine Flu alert

NI Wire

New Delhi

Tue, 28 Apr 2009: 

World Health Organization has reported human cases of Swine Influenza A/H1N1 caused by a re-assorted Swine flue virus in United States of America, Mexico, and Canada, the Indian authority has also been reviewing the preparedness for Swine Flu.

Government of India in a series of preventive measures has dicted for health surveillance at ports and international airports, surveillance through Integrated Disease Surveillance units in the States, and issued travel advisory for those travelling to the affected regions.

Individual state administrations have also been directed to review their preparedness to investigate and contain any suspected cluster of influenza like Illness. And Centre would provide all essential guidelines, experts, material logistics and laboratory support, said an official release.

A 24X7 call centre (Toll free No. 1075) has been set up where calls would be attended from people to report influenza like illness.

The first case of the deadly swine flu virus was reported in Mexico that later spread to neighbouring United States and Canada. Suspected cases have also been reported from New Zealand, Spain, France and UK.

Alert level elevated to phase 4

In view of the global scenario, where at least 1200 suspect cases have been reported so far, the WHO emergency committee has raised the level of influenza pandemic alert from the current phase 3 to phase 4. Although there is no such pandemic alert yet but a potential health crisis can’t be written off. Concerned authorities are on alert and taking all preventive measures.

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has told that the UN system is responding quickly and effectively. He also announced that the World Bank and other UN development and humanitarian agencies would provide funding to countries needing additional resources to combat an epidemic.

As the exact origin of the present cases isn’t clear, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is helping to determine if the new virus strain has a direct connection to pigs. A team of animal health experts are due to visit Mexico to assess the origin and transmission of the infection in the pig production sector.

Image Credit: www.un.org