File Photo: People visit a hospital in Rajasthan, as the state sees a surge in swine flu cases
With more and more swine flu cases being reported from across the country, Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Tuesday night chaired a high-level review meeting. In the meeting, the officials assessed reports from states and measures to deal with the infectious disease, sources said.
There has been a sharp rise in swine flu deaths, with over 100 reported in just the last three days. 631 people have so far died due to the disease this year. The number of people affected by the flu is 9,311 this year so far, much more than past few years.
As reports emerged about shortage of medicines at some places, Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) wrote to over 10,000 chemists across the country to stock Oseltamivir drug but not sell it without prescription, sources said.
Sources also said that the DGCI has asked chemists to also stock Tamiflu drug but not sell it without prescription.
The death toll in Rajasthan and Gujarat - the two worst affected states - stood at 183 and 150 respectively on February 16. In Rajasthan, the maximum number of deaths was reported in capital Jaipur.
Eighty-one people have died in Madhya Pradesh, where the highest number of causalities, 15, due to infection of H1N1 virus was reported in Indore.
Meanwhile, two senior officials were sent to RML Hospital in the national capital to assess the situation following reports that swine flu patients were facing problems in getting medicines.