New Delhi: The number of swine flu cases have doubled, but as the number of affected patients is still small, the government says there's no need to worry.
But another case was reported on Thursday taking the total to 44 and experts point out that if there is a sudden rise, then India's facilities will be grossly inadequate.
Swine flu cases across the world
June 14 -- 29,000
June 18 -- 39,620
Swine flu cases in India
June 14 -- 20
June 18 -- 44
In the last 24 hours, 13 new cases have comes up in Bangalore Hyderabad and Delhi -- patients who have been affected locally as against earlier cases who carried the infection from abroad.
"The two children who were infected got it from relatives who flew in from outside," said Kiran Walia, Health Minister, Delhi.
There's no need for panic says Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
"Looking at the size of India as a country the number of those infected, 35, is negligible. We had taken strong preventive steps and that's why it did not spread," said Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Health Minister.
On the ground India appears ill-prepared as there are only 26 isolation wards in the entire country and 16 facilities to test the virus.
Clearly not enough if the number of cases suddenly increase. Health experts fear that's a possibility once monsoons hit us with full might and the temperatures drop -- conditions favourable for the flu to spread.
"Your apprehension is right. We are also thinking on those lines," said Dr T S Chaluvaraj, Joint Director, Communicable Diseases & State Nodal Officer for Influenza H1N1, Bangalore.
"Some suspect patients are being quarantined in private hospitals," said Kiran Walia.
Is the Health Minister listening?