New Delhi, Aug 10 - Admitting that sending letters to states about the swine flu pandemic was having little impact, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Monday said the central government would send around 35 senior officers to help them tackle the spread of the disease.

Azad Monday said letters from central governments are not sensitising the states about the gravity of the problem.

'Communication through letters is not showing gravity. We need to work a little harder. We are sending 33 to 35 joint secretaries and additional secretaries of different ministries to states for the purpose,' Azad said.

'They will impress upon state governments to increase hospitals (for screening), isolation wards. They will meet health secretaries, chief secretaries and health ministers and tell them about the disease, how to manage it and prepare better,' the minister said, adding that the states must prepare better as the pandemic is set to spread further.

'Health is a state subject. They must take extra care to control it. The central government generally sends advisory but this time we are pro-active and spoon-feeding them,' Azad said.