New Delhi, Aug 7 Amid concerns that swine flu, is spreading across the country, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Friday that virus spread is minimal.

Addressing members of the Rajya Sabha, Azad refuted the suggestions that the government wasn't adequately prepared to tackle the crisis.

The House was in uproar over government's reported lack of preparedness to handle the outbreak.

Describing 14-year-old- Reeda Sheikh's death as unfortunate, Azad informed members that she had succumbed because of late diagnosis.

Azad informed that 19 centres were operational across the country to conduct swine flu tests of which 17 had been set up in the past month.

The House that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended Tamiflu as the medicine to treat the virus, he added

He appealed to the public to have faith in the medicine. (ANI)