As seven more persons tested positive for H1N1 virus in Karnataka on Monday, government stepped up measures to contain the swine flu, enlisting 12 more private hospitals for in-patient treatment and setting up a 24X7 control room to provide information to public.
For the first time, the swine flu was spreading among people other than those who had travelled abroad and returned, a top health official told reporters in Bangalore.
"At least 17 such patients have tested positive so far. The government is fully geared up to meet the situation. There is no need for panic," Principal Health Secretary IR Perumal and Health Commissioner Srinivasa Chari said.
With the addition of 12, a total of 25 hospitals in the city are now geared up to tackle the flu cases. The number of confirmed cases has risen to 92 as of on Monday.
At a high level meeting chaired by state Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao with officials of the Health Department and the city corporation, Bruhut Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), it was decided to request the Centre for supply of 500 more swine flu test kits and also tamiflu drug.
The state currently has a stock of about one lakh tamiflu tablets and has distributed them among hospitals identified to treat the patients and also ensured availability of the drug at all district hospitals in case of emergency, Chari said.
{{/usCountry}}The state currently has a stock of about one lakh tamiflu tablets and has distributed them among hospitals identified to treat the patients and also ensured availability of the drug at all district hospitals in case of emergency, Chari said.
{{/usCountry}}BBMP Commissioner Bharatlal Meena appealed to schools not to shut down and further fuel the scare among children and parents after a private school declared a week-long holiday.