New Delhi: Even as the count increases of the number of people testing positive to the H1N1 virus, the Centre is now looking at developing a vaccine at home.
In fact work on the vaccine has already begun with scientists at Pune's National Institute of Virology (NIV) isolating the virus.
The Centre is in talks with three vaccine manufacturers as well for manufacturing the final vaccine candidate. The latest patient to be infected is a six-year-old girl who came from the US on holiday. She's now in quarantine at a time when another six-year-old is out of hospital completely cured of the virus.
But preventing the spread is the utmost priority right now, which means tighter screening at the airports, special quarantine wards in every state, and strict instructions to state governments to remain alert. These are among the major steps being taken. India is still in the 'containment stage' classified as grade IV.
In all, India has 16 swine flu cases. Five people have been discharged after they responded to medication and the overall situation is not bad so far. In fact, in Andhra Pradesh, eight cases have been reported, half the number of cases in the country.
As India deals with the international outbreak of swine flu, the message from the government in India is clear - don't panic.
India is still in the containment stage, which means the spread of the virus is not out of control.
So far, there has been no local spread. All the cases are from outside, mostly US.
The disease can be tracked, screened and treated since the community will come out and report cases.
The government says India is well stocked with Tamiflu medication to deal with a large outbreak and the government will not resort to forced isolation of patients just yet.
Meanwhile, The Mumbai International Airport has set up a thermal imaging device that will help in screening passengers with fever or high body temperature, which is one of the symptoms of swine flu.
But while the Centre says there's no reason to panic, Delhi has invoked the Epidemic Act, which means the government has the powers to detain anybody who does not comply with regulations.
This is after a powerful businessman and his mother refused to be hospitalised at a government hospital for treatment of swine flu. The Act provides for "medical arrest" of people if they refuse to be hospitalised or are spreading the disease. It also makes it mandatory for all medical practitioners to report every case.
The WHO has declared a global pandemic but there are worries that not everyone will be able to access the drugs and vaccine needed to fight the virus. Organisations like the medicine sans frontier have expressed concern at the way rich countries are stockpiling drugs. But Indian firms like Cipla have shown that there is a way out to fight this artificial shortage.