The Tamil Nadu government today said 33 persons have been affected with the A (H1N1) virus or Swine Flu in the state and assured there was no need to panic since it was not pandemic but a seasonal flu.
Replying to a special call attention motion moved by the Opposition, including DMDK and DMK in the assembly, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr V S Vijay said the government had also allocated Rs 55 lakh towards procuring vaccines even as he assured there is adequate stock of required drugs.
"The government is taking all steps in this regard and day-to-day monitoring is being done. Special wards have been set up at Medical College Hospitals in Chennai, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli, where swab tests are also being done free of cost," he said.
As of April 9, 2012, 33 persons had been affected with a farmer C Kandasamy of Tirupur district, succumbing to the virus, he said.
However, the victim died of old-age complications and late diagnosis and not primarily due to the virus, he said.
Children,diabetics and the elderly are prone to the virus attack due to lower resistance, he said, adding the World Health Organisation had declared it was no more a pandemic and that it was only a seasonal flu.
{{/usCountry}}Children,diabetics and the elderly are prone to the virus attack due to lower resistance, he said, adding the World Health Organisation had declared it was no more a pandemic and that it was only a seasonal flu.
{{/usCountry}}Dr Vijay said government had directed authorised private labs to conduct swab tests at not more than Rs 3,000 following information that some are charging around Rs 6,000.