The Madagascan government has set up hotlines for reports of the deadly A/H1N1 flu in the Indian Ocean island country.

Madagascar has 84 confirmed cases of the pandemic, including the newly found 68 at the French School of Antananarivo, according to Nivo Andriamampianina, director in charge of communications under Madagascan Ministry of Health. The official also said 16 patients had fully recovered from the disease.

The ministry put in place three hotlines on Friday, including one green number for each of the three mobile operators in the country.

The ministry has also formed a mobile health team, which can intervene immediately in case of clinical signs of A/H1N1 influenza.

A government Befelatanana hospital in the city center is available for those who need auscultation.

Andriamampianina said a stock of Tamiflu is no longer sufficient to meet the increase of cases.

The French School of Antananarivo is working closely with the Madagascan Ministry of Health and the laboratory of the Institute Pasteur of Madagascar to prevent the spread of the influenza.

The first case of A/H1N1 influenza was reported in Madagascar on Aug. 13, involving an eight 8-year-old girl who had spent the holidays in several countries.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2009)