India on flu alert: To screen passengers on all airports

Screening has started at 10 airports and by Saturday all airports would begin screening passengers,he said,adding 96 doctors have been deployed for the purpose. While Delhi has the largest number of 8 screening counters,Trichy has the least that is only one.

The Centre has decentralised its stockpile of Oseltamivir,the drug which is most effective against the virus and Personal Protection Equipments (PPE) for the health workers.

Director of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) V N Katoch said the Indian strategy for containment of the disease was very similar to that of the United States– the country which has reported the least mortality due to the disease.

Asked if the searing heat can be a factor in stopping the transmission of the disease,he said,though it can kill the virus outdoors,the germs will survive in closed spaces like planes,residences and offices.

Katoch said the H1N1 virus was actually a combination of three viruses namely Avian,Swine and Human. “The cause for worry is that it can be transmitted human to human,” he said.

Chaudhary said no samples have as of now been picked up for checking in India apart from that of the Hyderabad resident.

He cautioned against culling of pigs as the virus was not transmitted through eating pork.