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Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 03, 2010
A(H1N1) flu surfacing in new areas in country: ICMR chief
Shastry V. Mallady
? Photo: K. Ganesan
V.M. Katoch, Director General, ICMR, at a press conference in Madurai on Saturday. R. Karpaga Kumaravel, Vice-Chancellor, Madurai Kamaraj University, is in the picture.
MADURAI: India will have to face the challenge of A(H1N1) influenza for one more year since the flu is now surfacing in new places in the country, V. M. Katoch, Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said here on Saturday.
?In places where swine flu cases have already been reported, it has been contained. But, we found that it is spreading to new pockets and hence the challenge will be there for one more year. It is like a flood and will take sometime to recede.?
Dr. Katoch, also Secretary to Department of Health Research, Government of India, said that indigenous testing kits and vaccine to tackle A (H1N1) influenza would soon be available in the country.
?The ICMR is facilitating that process. Four types of indigenous testing kits will be available in the market in two to three months. They will be at least 25 per cent cheaper than what we have been purchasing from abroad now,? he told presspersons on the sidelines of the inauguration of a national conference on biotechnology organised by Madurai Kamaraj University.
Claiming that India had shown to the world that it could give them stiff competition by coming out with its indigenously developed products, the ICMR chief said five companies had come forward to develop a vaccine for A(H1N1) flu.
Replying to a question on India?s position on releasing Genetically Modified (GM) mosquitoes to control vector-borne diseases, Dr. Katoch said the GM mosquito mechanism could only be a ?temporary intervention,? considering the size of the country.
?GM mosquito is a policy issue and the Government of India will be cautious to ensure that the natural ecosystem is not affected. However, from the safety point of view and from whatever data I had looked into, there is nothing adverse so far.?
Dr. Katoch said there had to be a dispassionate study of GM mosquito technology to see whether it was really harmful or not.
R. Karpaga Kumaravel, Vice-Chancellor, Madurai Kamaraj University, who also spoke to the media, said several initiatives would be taken to strengthen teaching and infrastructure facilities in the university
http://www.thehindu.com/2010/01/03/stories/2010010354270500.htm
Sunday, Jan 03, 2010
A(H1N1) flu surfacing in new areas in country: ICMR chief
Shastry V. Mallady
? Photo: K. Ganesan
V.M. Katoch, Director General, ICMR, at a press conference in Madurai on Saturday. R. Karpaga Kumaravel, Vice-Chancellor, Madurai Kamaraj University, is in the picture.
MADURAI: India will have to face the challenge of A(H1N1) influenza for one more year since the flu is now surfacing in new places in the country, V. M. Katoch, Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said here on Saturday.
?In places where swine flu cases have already been reported, it has been contained. But, we found that it is spreading to new pockets and hence the challenge will be there for one more year. It is like a flood and will take sometime to recede.?
Dr. Katoch, also Secretary to Department of Health Research, Government of India, said that indigenous testing kits and vaccine to tackle A (H1N1) influenza would soon be available in the country.
?The ICMR is facilitating that process. Four types of indigenous testing kits will be available in the market in two to three months. They will be at least 25 per cent cheaper than what we have been purchasing from abroad now,? he told presspersons on the sidelines of the inauguration of a national conference on biotechnology organised by Madurai Kamaraj University.
Claiming that India had shown to the world that it could give them stiff competition by coming out with its indigenously developed products, the ICMR chief said five companies had come forward to develop a vaccine for A(H1N1) flu.
Replying to a question on India?s position on releasing Genetically Modified (GM) mosquitoes to control vector-borne diseases, Dr. Katoch said the GM mosquito mechanism could only be a ?temporary intervention,? considering the size of the country.
?GM mosquito is a policy issue and the Government of India will be cautious to ensure that the natural ecosystem is not affected. However, from the safety point of view and from whatever data I had looked into, there is nothing adverse so far.?
Dr. Katoch said there had to be a dispassionate study of GM mosquito technology to see whether it was really harmful or not.
R. Karpaga Kumaravel, Vice-Chancellor, Madurai Kamaraj University, who also spoke to the media, said several initiatives would be taken to strengthen teaching and infrastructure facilities in the university
http://www.thehindu.com/2010/01/03/stories/2010010354270500.htm