Patna, March 5: Eight new cases of swine flu were detected in the state today, taking the number of patients to 78.

'Of the eight cases reported today (Thursday), four alone are from Patna and the rest from Darbhanga, Begusarai, Gaya and one more district,' said Prashant Kumar, epidemiologist at the civil surgeon's office.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar said the civil surgeon's office would distribute vaccines of swine flu to government health facilities, including Patna Medical College and Hospital. 'Doctors and para-medics are at great risk of contracting the disease because of their high chances of exposure to swine flu patients. So all the doctors of government hospitals would be vaccinated first,' he said.

Sources said Nitish held a joint review meeting with officials of various departments, including health and education, during the day. The sources said Nitish ticked off senior health officials for not being able to complete his dream projects related to their department. 'It was decided that all the primary health centres would run 24x7 but this is not the case today. Nitish took the officials to task for this and also rebuked them for non-availability of medicines in government health facilities,' a senior health official said under cover of anonymity.