Azad blames travellers for bringing in swine flu

Seemi Pasha , CNN-IBN
Posted on Aug 11, 2009 at 01:41 | Updated Aug 11, 2009 at 02:19

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The H1N1 Influenza A virus has claimed the life of seven people in India and infected more than a 1,000 people. Central Government has decided to keep away the private hospitals away from treating H1N1 cases and only government labs have been accredited to test for the virus. Even Tamiflu, the only known medicine to cure swine flu, is available only at government hospitals. Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke to CNN-IBN Correspondent Seemi Pasha and explained Government’s strategy.

CNN-IBN: Do you think the Health Ministry underestimated the strength of the virus considering the few of the casualties had taken Tamiflu?

Ghulam Nabi Azad: People have woken up now. We have woken up for pretty long time and that's why we have contained it. If we had not contained it and taken some steps, by now the numbers would have gone to millions. Till today we have screened 47 lakh people. Which country in the world can do such a massive exercise?

CNN-IBN: The case of Rida Shaikh, the first casualty of H1N1... do you think her death could have been avoided had the private sector been included in the entire plan to tackle H1N1 right at the beginning?

Ghulam Nabi Azad: They do not have quarantined area. They do not have separate wards. They do not have trained doctors. So they would have landed in one ward and then the disease would have spread to everybody, all the patients in the ward. We have already issued directions to all the state governments that they should hold meetings with private hospitals and direct them.

CNN-IBN: Sir you say there are 90 laboratories that have been identified by the government. There are so many people who think they may have H1N1. There are so many people who want to get tested. Now every person who has flu-like symptoms... if they want to get tested do you think this infrastructure is available?

Ghulam Nabi Azad: Let me tell you. The infrastructure for a huge population is available no where in the world. Why WHO said 'no you cannot go and test everybody'? When number increases or goes out of control then no testing is done. Then the treatment starts. What has happened in the rest of the world? They have been testing at all. So here as long as the number was less… we tried to do all these exercises. God forbid when the number increases then it won't be possible to do like the other countries have done.

CNN-IBN: A lot of people are questioning why you are resisting the idea of making Tamiflu available at retail outlets. Your argument has been that Indians have a habit of popping up pills. But shouldn't you educate them spreading the awareness and then let them decide?

Ghulam Nabi Azad: For a size of our country how much Tamiflu is needed? Whether it will be available is the No. 1 questions. No.2 how much hoarding will take place? That is happening. Then what will be the coast and escalation when production is less and hoarding is more. So once every body takes the medicine as a precaution it will have two ramifications. No. 1 millions of people will consume so there will be mismatch with the production. The second ramification will be most of the people who are not required to consume this medication will consume it and the genuine people will be deprived of it.

CNN-IBN: The government also now decided to proactively seek patients who might have symptoms and track them. Do you think the system of self-reporting has somewhere failed?

Ghulam Nabi Azad: No. This is what we have been telling every body right from the beginning. Let me tell you no body on this earth could have stopped this flu. Let it be clear. As long as we are part of this planet, as long as we are part of this globe... if 168 countries could not prevent it, the geographical barriers, the climate could not prevent this, how could India escape from this disease?

CNN-IBN: The situation is not becoming any better. At any point of time do you see the government asking schools to actually close down schools in September-October for autum vacation?

Ghulam Nabi Azad: Let me tell you one thing. The states shall have to decide. Even about the health as it is a state subject. As a matter of fact the Health Ministry of the Government of India has to only guide, issue advisories to the state governments. But I think we have over stepped our jurisdiction. As far as the schools should be closed or not again… it is for the state governments to decide. I as the Health Minister would like to say that is not going to be the solution.

CNN-IBN: What kind of social distancing steps would you recommend?

Ghulam Nabi Azad: That is what I am saying.

CNN-IBN: But do you also want people who don't have symptoms to avoid going to parties, avoid going for movies?

Ghulam Nabi Azad: I have already said that self-restraint is the best thing. Some body be it student, housewife, officials, government servant or businessman... if they feel they have symptoms they should avoid meeting people.

CNN-IBN: Sir you had advised people to avoid travel to countries that are infected with the virus...

Ghulam Nabi Azad: In fact this is the first advisory that we gave. But in spite of that lakhs and lakhs of people did so.

CNN-IBN: Sir do you feel that now there is a need to restrict people coming from affected countries?

Ghulam Nabi Azad: In this era of globalisation neither can you stop any body from going nor can you stop any body from coming. At least our people should not have gone. But in spite of our advisory went and brought this gift from there.

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