Swine flu: Cab Secy,states in talks today

The sources said the Prime Minister has been regularly monitoring the situation. Even as he is busy with the elections,the PM has been closely reviewing the situation. It is on his direction that a teleconference will be held tomorrow, the sources said.

Health Ministry officials have put in place measures in case the virus surfaces in India. So far,samples collected at airports from people with flu-like symptoms have tested negative for the H1N1 virus. Three samples were collected today and the results are awaited. The samples arrived only this evening. We will confirm the results by Monday morning, said Dr Shiv Lal,Director,National Institute of Communicable Diseases.

The Health Ministry has placed orders for procurement of nine million doses of Tamiflu,the only drug available to combat the virus. But officials clarified that the drug,also called Oseltamivir,will not be available over the counter. If the drug is made available in chemist shops,people will start taking it as a precautionary measure. The drug should be taken under supervision which is why it will not be available over the counter, said Dr Shiv Lal.