To increase its attentiveness and block up swine influenza virus’ entry into India, the government has began taking desperate steps to battle and contain it.

The administration on Tuesday announced that it would ask drug makers comprising Cipla, Ranbaxy, Natco and Hyderabad-based Hetero Drugs to start storing the chemicals needed to create the drug to fight deadly influenza.

Moreover, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) would also issue additional passes to health workers in order to check people with flu symptoms at nine airports.

A functionary from health ministry told, “We will ask firms to increase their stock of anti-influenza drug to about 10 million doses from over one million at present… besides increasing drug stocks, the health ministry would deploy health workers for pre-immigration screening at nine airports.”

In Mexico, swine flu has taken the lives of more than 100 people, and infecting nations including the US and UK.

India, on Monday, has issued an advisory against non-essential travel to these nations.

With the intention to augment surveillance at the nine international airports including six metropolitans and Kochi, Goa and Jaipur, the civil aviation ministry has taken a variety of steps.

“All passengers coming to India from the affected areas will be mandatorily screened for influenza symptoms while for others it will be voluntary,” the executive said.

On Tuesday, cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar held an upper-level meeting with the functionaries of health and aviation ministry to prepare India against the deadly disease.

The administration has also decided to issue forms to each and every airline to get them filled by every international passenger seeking particulars regarding their traveling plans.

The aviation ministry will also direct AAI to issue instructions on all health ministry needs to the concerned airports.

The aviation ministry will offer unique access passes to health workers for making entry into airports.

Amar Lulla, joint MD of Cipla, stated that the company could supply 1.5 million dosages of generic Tamiflu drugs in 4-6 weeks to help fight swine flu epidemic.