Health officials should take steps to create a dedicated control room for contagious diseases by May 15, state Public Health Minister Deepak Sawant said on April 23.
 

He added that several preventive measures to stop the spread of contagious diseases were put in place before the monsoons last year. "I want this to be a continuous process so that we can keep a check on contagious diseases. Each circle of the health department should be ready with medicines and other infrastructure to ensure that this is possible," he said. The minister announced that a dedicated laboratory to test swine flu would be set up in Nashik's district civil hospital. He also unveiled a logo for an anti-honking initiative, in which awareness would be created on the issue for an hour between 1pm to 2pm. "Excessive honking leads to aggressiveness, loss of hearing, high blood pressure and some cardiac ailments as well. We need to sensitise people about it," he said.