Eleven new swine flu cases, total in India 104

Eleven new cases of the swine flu were reported Monday, taking the total influenza A(H1N1) cases to 104 in India, union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said here.

"Eleven cases were reported today. Now, India has 104 swine flu cases," Azad told reporters here.

He said of the total, 61 have been discharged from hospitals having recovered after treatment.

Of the total cases, nine were children, he said.

"Out of the total 104 cases, 95 were imported cases, while nine were those who had got the infection from outside and had given it to their family members," he said.

India has reported nine human-to-human transmission cases.

The minister said 68 people who tested positive for the swine flu had come from the US.

"We have taken a number of precautions and that's why we were able to contain the infection and not allowed it to spread," he said, referring to the growing number of swine flu cases reported by the US and other Western countries.

He said while the US has reported 21,459 cases and 87 deaths, Mexico has registered over 8,000 cases and 116 deaths. In Canada, 6,000 cases and 19 deaths have been reported while Argentina has reported over 1,300 cases and 21 deaths.

He said in Chile over 5,000 cases and 17 deaths, in Australia over 3,000 cases and three deaths have been reported.

In Britain, 3,000 cases have occurred while one death was also reported. In Japan, about 1,000 swine flu cases have been reported, Azad said.

He said they are further strengthening their screenings at the international airports, checkpoints and ports.

"Ministries of external affairs and civil aviation have been advised to alert our Indian missions abroad and the international airlines to facilitate exit screenings from the respective countries," Azad said.

From July 1, he said, announcements would be made in all international flights coming to India about anyone suffering from swine flu like symptoms.

He said they have imported four thermal scanners to be installed at the Delhi International airport Tuesday.

The health minister, who was flanked by Minister of State for Health Dinesh Trivedi, said 16 laboratories are ready to test for the virus.

"The laboratories are spread across the country," he added.

Last updated on Jun 29^th, 2009 at 19:27 pm IST--IANS