District collector in Andhra down with swine flu

HYDERABAD - A district collector in Andhra Pradesh has got infected by influenza A(H1N1) even as the alarming spurt in swine flu has worried the state government.

Health Minister D. Nagender told reporters Monday that an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, who is a collector of a district, had tested positive for swine flu. He declined to reveal the official’s name.

However, TV channels reported that it was Nalgonda district collector S.A.M. Rizvi who was down with swine flu. He is being shifted to Hyderabad for treatment.

Meanwhile, the state government has taken several more steps to control the spread of influenza A(H1N1), which has so far claimed 10 lives in Andhra Pradesh - six of them in the last two days.

The health minister said it has been decided to set up six more screening centres in Hyderabad besides one screening centre in each district. “The government has decided to issue an H1NI bulletin every day and also set up screening centres at 17 corporate hospitals in the state capital,” he said.

Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, who reviewed the situation at the Gandhi Hospital Sunday, said that in view of the high cost of testing - almost Rs.9,000 per individual, the government has decided to include swine flu in the package of Aarogyasri, the health insurance scheme for the poor.

He also held a meeting with the representatives of all corporate hospitals to share the government’s concern in providing speedy treatment to swine flu patients in major towns as well as in rural areas.

Health Secretary L.V. Subramanyam told reporters Monday that as the majority of the 319 people found infected were poor, the government has decided to include it in the Aarogyasri package.

“This package enables even the BPL (below poverty line) ration-card holders to take swine flu treatment which costs upto Rs.60,000 per person.”

He said there was enough stock of Tamiflu tablets and more ventilators will be set up in key government hospitals and district hospitals.

“We have a stock of four lakh Tamiflu tablets, which are being disbursed to all district hospitals,” he said.