Telangana Swine Flu cases mount, KCR briefs PM

Hyderabad, Jan 21 (IANS) With more swine flu cases being reported in Telangana, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao Wednesday briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the situation and sought the central government's help in tackling it.

The chief minister spoke to Modi over phone and urged him to send central teams to help the state health authorities.

Rao also spoke to union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and sought immediate help to contain the spread of the virus.

With five deaths and about 50 new cases reported Tuesday, the chief minister called an emergency meeting of the state cabinet Wednesday evening to discuss the emergency measures to be taken.

KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, voiced unhappiness over the performance of the health department. He reviewed the situation with Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma and the officials of the health department and sought a detailed report by afternoon.

As the cold weather conditions are likely to continue for 20 more days, KCR said there was a need for the authorities to remain on alert to check the spread of H1N1 virus and create public awareness on the preventive measures.

The chief minister said the government was ready to spend any amount of money to make the vaccines available.

KCR took a serious view of the situation after five more swine flu deaths were reported Tuesday at government-run Gandhi Hospital and Osmania Hospital in Hyderabad, taking the toll this month to 12.

About 50 people have tested positive for swine flu, taking the overall positive cases in the state to 221 in January.