The state public health minister Dr Rajendra Shingne told mediapersons in the secretariat that the Act empowers the health officials to conduct epidemic surveys and compulsorily admit any suspect patient of H1N1 virus in the government hospital for treatment.

If need arose, then the act would be applied throughout the state to check the spread of the epidemic. Shingne said the Jehangir hospital has been given three to four days to reply to the showcause notice, which seeks to find out why the hospital did not inform the government authorities about presence of H1N1 virus patient and why it did not refer the case to a government hospital.

The minister of state for public health Shobha Bachchav appealed people suffering from swine flu not to go to private hospitals and get admitted in government hospitals, where adequate stock of medicines have been kept ready. She said private hospital should not take any suspected patients of H1N1 virus as they do not have any right to do tests unless they take permission from the government.

Terming Rida’s death as “unfortunate”, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan blamed it on “negligence” on part of the private hospital. He announced an inquiry.

Under scanner
* 105 people close to Pune girl put on preventive medication
* Ten-day medication for all who came in her contact
* Girl’s mother and cousin sister tested negative
* Students of Anne’s school  being screened