NCDC was earlier known as the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). It was renamed to mark its 50th anniversary.

Lal said that contrary to media reports, the Maharashtra government is not giving Tamiflu to all suspected cases.

There are three categories of people - category A people are those who have come to hospitals with relatively no symptoms, they are advised to go home and report only if there are further symptoms.

Category B people with acute fever and other symptoms are given Tamiflu, but asked to go home to keep a watch for further symptoms.

The last category are those who have acute respiratory problems and they are given Tamiflu and are hospitalised.