Swine flu death toll rises to 926

Court issues notices to government on treatment

The Delhi High Court issued notices yesterday to the central and the state governments on steps being taken to deal with swine flu even as union Health Minister JP Nadda asked people not to panic.

According to collated data from the Health Ministry on February 24 this year, the death toll of the disease has reached 926 while the number of affected persons in various states stood at 16,235.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw issued notices to the union health minister, the city’s health ministry, civic bodies and the Lt. governor on the issue, and sought their response by March 4.

The public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Gaurav Bahl said the government should provide more laboratories in the city for testing swine flu (H1N1 virus) and the facility should be available at an affordable cost.

“The government should establish multiple testing laboratories and that should be available at an affordable cost. Now, the cost of test is Rs4,500 (Dh266). It has to be reduced,” argued Bahl.

Currently, the government has only three laboratories in Delhi for swine flu tests, he told the court, adding that “the government should immediately establish multiple testing laboratories at all government hospitals wherein the identification test for swine flu can be conducted”.

The plea challenged “the inaction and lackadaisical and perfunctory approach of the government” in effectively dealing with swine flu.

Laboratories in Delhi for swine flu tests.

Sufficient medicine

The plea sought to ensure that a sufficient amount of medicines are available with all hospitals and nursing homes of Delhi. Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha, Nadda said there is no shortage of swine flu medicine.

He said the central government is in touch with all states and a regular review of the situation is being done. “There is no need to panic but we need to be alert.” The minister said the states have been supplied medicine and other equipment.

He said the number of deaths were because of ignorance. “Patients are coming late to doctors after taking medicine themselves.”