Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday in Lok Sabha ruled out any death from swine flu in India till date.

Speaking in the lower house, the Union Health Minister clarified that samples of the 51-year-old man who was reported to have died of suspected H1N1in Kerala on Wednesday had tested negative for the influenza.

A 52-year-old NRI, who had returned from the UK in early June, died at a private hospital in the Kollam district of Kerala on July 1, 2009.

The Minister assured all the members of the house that the government is fully geared up to deal with the situation.

Mr. Azad stated the country would soon come up with a vaccine to counter swine flu.

He informed the house that the number of testing laboratories has been increased from two to 18 to intensify the monitoring of the disease.

The Health Minister feels that the rate of swine flu in India was practically “non-existent” as compared to other nations of the world.

“There have been 109 cases so far of which 70 have already gone back (from the hospital). Fortunately, no deaths have taken place in India,” said Azad.

The Minister also added he took up the matter personally with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who issued necessary instructions the heads of Indian missions abroad.     

Earlier, house members asked the government to take effective steps to counter the spread of H1N1.