New Delhi (PTI): With an increase in cases of A(H1N1) in the country, the Centre has directed the states to strengthen isolation facilities and critical care at the district level, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

In reponse to a calling attention motion on the matter, he said Central and state rapid response teams, comprising doctors drawn from various streams, were ready to be deployed to manage community outbreak situations, if the need arises.

Such teams were also undergoing refresher training courses, he said adding that over 100 A(H1N1) cases have been confirmed so far in the country.

Elaborating on the steps taken by the Centre to meet the situation, he said there was adequate quantity of Oseltamivir, the drug recommended by WHO for the viral infection. Ten million capsules were in the national stockpile and another six million were in stock with pharmaceutical companies.

He said many of the travel-related cases could have been averted if the governments of the affected countries had followed exit screening at their airports.

Mr. Azad said he took up the matter personally with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who issued necessary instructions the heads of Indian missions.

He said the government is fully geared up to deal with the situation.

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