Union minister for health and family welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad has assured the country that the government is fully prepared to face the challenge of H1N1, which has been declared a phase 6 pandemic by the World Health Organization.

Talking to media persons here, Azad said that given the size and population of the country, the number of positive cases is very less and the disease has not emanated locally. All the cases have come from outside and mainly from the USA. Therefore there is no need to panic. "The disease is fully curable and we have enough stock of the medicine. All the 15 cases are being treated, five Patients have already been discharged," the minister added.

Outlining the measures taken to deal with the situation the Health Minister told the media that 16 more labs are being activated, 10 million doses of 'Tamiflu' have been procured and the Rapid Response Teams are being trained at state levels. In future these teams will also be operationalised at district level. 'Screening and isolation facilities were put in place well in time, all the necessary measures are being taken' the Minister said.

In reply to a question, the minister said that Tamiflu is not being distributed through private channels and if the cases of private chemist selling the drug are reported concerned state authorities should take action to prevent it.

On the question of exit screening in the affected countries, Azad informed the press persons that he has already written to the minister of external affairs. The minister of external affairs has informed the health minister that the matter is being taken up through the MEA missions in the concerned countries.