Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan quarantine flu-hit Maha

Chennai/Jaipur: Tamil Nadu government on Friday issued an advisory to all its residents to not travel to Maharashtra in the wake of the swine flu pandemic there.

"We've issued an advisory not to go unless its warranted. Especially children shouldn't go to Mumbai and Pune or Sitara district because children are vulnerable,” said Director

Public Health, S Elango.

The Tamil Nadu government also set up a screening center at the Chennai central railway station to screen all the passengers coming into Chennai, especially from the Maharashtra region.

But Tamil Nadu is not the only state. Rajasthan too has decided to scan passengers coming from Mumbai and Pune in buses and trains after a 26-year-old man returning from Pune showed flu like symptoms.

“Screening of buses and trains coming from Pune and Mumbai is important. It’s a very big task but we will be doing it,” said Rajasthan Health Minister, Aminuddin Ahmad Khan.

Its the first time states have issued a swine flu advisory against another state and Maharashtra government is not amused.

It is accusing the DMK government of creating panic among people. "How can they issue such an advisory? Maharashtra is not unsafe for traveling,” Health Ministry said.

Even former union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss says the state governments are overreacting.

“This is not necessary, please don't create panic,” he said.

Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan's advisories have laid open the possibility of other states joining in to quarantine flu-hit Maharashtra.

(Inputs from Meenakshi Mahadevan and Swati Vashishta)

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