Gujarat to invoke Epidemics Act to thwart swine flu

The decision to invoke the Act comes in the wake of the state's first swine flu case, a 28-year-old Somjai Kaphueak, reported on Staurday. Somjai had willingly agreed to go under quarantine.

Empowering authorities to combat flu
Briefly put the objective of the Epidemic Disease Control Act is "better prevention of spread of dangerous epidemic diseases".

Section 2(1) of the Act states, "…if the government thinks that the ordinary provisions of law in force at the time are insufficient for the purpose, it may take or require or empower any person to take such measures and, by public notice, prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any person or class of persons to prevent the outbreak of such disease or spread of the disease."

The act will thus bestow powers on competent authorities to compulsorily quarantine people susceptible to the swine flu.

Travelers returning from affected countries and people coming in contact with swine flu patients would be the prime targets to be kept under isolation.

The notification regarding the implementation of the act is likely within a couple of days. The national capital, Delhi, has already invoked provisions of the said Act.

This is not the first time that the state of Gujarat would bring into force the Epidemic Disease Control Act. The same Act was enforced during the plague epidemic in Surat in the year 1994.

The national view
Overall, India appears to have put various checks and balances in place to thwart the spread of the Influenza A (H1N1).

Thus far, only 129 cases have tested positive in a country with population of over 110 crores. Out of the total 129 cases, 90 patients have already been treated and discharged. The others have been admitted in various identified health facilities across the country.