AP: Swine flu claims one more life, toll at 4

The death toll in the current outbreak of swine flu in Andhra Pradesh has mounted to four while 23 cases have been registered across the state so far, Principal Secretary P V Ramesh told journalists in Hyderabad on Sunday.

However, he urged the people not to panic as the health administration was on high alert across the state with sufficient stock of anti viral drugs.

He advised the people not to take the medicine as a precautionary measure, as it would not be of any use and may have side effects.

"If there are any symptoms of swine flu, they should consult the doctors immediately", he said.

People can call no helpline numbers 104 and 1056 for queries, he added. 

Ramesh said the facilities for treating swine flu cases were available in 17 district hospitals, 11 teaching hospitals and 28 private hospitals.

Of the 80,000 dozes of medicine procured from the central government, 60,000 have already been used, he said.

Health department officials also reviewed the situation and the preparation with the management of 27 private hospitals.

Chief Minister K Rosaiah has reportedly directed health department officials to take all the necessary measures to prevent the further spread of H1N1 flu in the state and procure enough medicine stock at all district headquarters.

After a meeting with the state Health Minister Danam Nagendar and top officials, the chief minister announced that more beds and ventilators would be added to government hospitals, and private hospitals have also been asked to cooperate in dealing with the situation.

The chief minister reiterated his appeal to the media, particularly the electronic media, to create awareness among the people and to initiate discussions and debates on swine flu. He also asked the health department to increase the number of screening centres.

Rosaiah assured that the government would take all steps to control the spread of the disease.

Unlike last year, there will be no need for sending the samples for examination to Delhi as Hyderabad's Institute of Preventive Medicine has been marked as a state-of-the-art diagnostic laboratory for confirming the H1N1 influenza.