Message from the Honourable Health and Family Welfare Minister

After the initial outbreak in Mexico during March 2009, Influenza A H1N1 (earlier known as Swine Flu) has spread to many countries over a short period of time. Subsequently, the World Health Organisation declared on 11th June 2009 that the world is at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic.

This pandemic, like the one in 1918 and subsequent ones, has the same potential to kill. This time round, the rapid spread has been fuelled by the ever growing international travel leading to the fastest ever spreading Pandemic. But the comforting news is that the World today is better prepared than before.

India is one of those countries which had prepared itself for the pandemic. As soon as the alert for the pandemic was received we had swung into action and taken up many public health measures to contain, or mitigate the pandemic as it evolves in Indian soil.

We have taken several actions. Apart from stockpiling of Oseltamivir in every district of the country, we have allowed retail sale of Oseltamivir. Guidelines on several aspects of the pandemic preparedness have been issued from time to time. The States have been supported for capacity building in terms of training, logistic support like personal protective equipments, ventilators etc and creating awareness through print and visual media. Efforts are also being made for making vaccine available in the near future.

The Website is a window for disseminating information and I hope it provides a continuous support to all of us in whatever capacity we may be, in facing the Pandemic, as individuals, organizations, departments and ministries.

You are requested to make full use of this important website and also provide us your feedback for making the website more workable and useful.