There’s no reason to panic, the health authorities in India tell us. The official figure of confirmed swine flu cases in the country has risen from five to 15 in a week. Swab reports of five suspected cases are awaited. But such isolated cases don’t indicate anything and there isn’t much to be alarmed as long as case clusters are not reported.

Health ministry officials pacify our nerves saying we are in the ‘containment stage’ or lower level of spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, what is bothering public health administrators is the illegal sale and purchase of Tamiflu as an over-the-counter drug in some metro cities. The drug, given free to infected patients at the designated swine flue treatment centres, is being black marketed freely at exorbitant prices. This, more than being an offence, also means people taking the drug out of panic might develop drug resistance to the fast mutating influenza bug. The World Health Organisation has cautioned again self-medication as if might only worsen the situation.

For a guide to swine flu, click here. For India helplines, dial 1075 or 011-23921401.