New Technology

Another person tested positive for the swine flu virus today, taking the number of such cases in the country to 16, even as the Government asserted that there was no need to panic as the disease was still containable in India despite WHO's "level six" pandemic alert. The latest case was from Hyderabad where a six-year old girl, who came back from the United States along with her parents on June 10, tested positive for the virus.

With this, the total number of cases in Hyderabad has reached eight. In order to ensure better screening of passengers, the Government has decided to install thermal scanners at airports to detect people who were entering the country with fever.

"The scanners would be installed at the Delhi airport first and later at other airports," Vineet Chaudhary, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry said. The Government has also asked Indian missions abroad to tell people having symptoms of swine flu to defer travelling to India.

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the number of persons infected in the country is "too less and too small" compared to its size and population. "I don't think there is any need for panic.

So far our country is concerned.

In view of the size and population of the country, the number of persons infected is too less and too small," he said.