Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 3 (IANS) A man who had been visiting the US and Canada on a regular basis was tested positive for the influenza A(H1N1) virus, commonly known as swine flu, Indian health officials said Wednesday.
The man, whose identity was not revealed, had arrived at the Hyderabad airport from the US via London, May 30.

At that time, he had not reported that he was suffering from fever. But on June 1, he reported at the identified hospital at Hyderabad with complaints of cough, running nose and fever, the officials said.

“His samples tested positive for Influenza A (H1N1). He has been put on Oseltamivir,” an official said.

He said all those who came in contact with him were being traced so that their health could be monitored.

A 34-year-old woman and her five-year-old son, who had arrived in Chennai from the US and were tested positive for the virus, were recovering, the official said.

Except for three foreigners who had travelled with them in the same flight, all have been traced and are found to be free of any symptoms.

“A total of 141 persons have been tested of which four have been tested positive for Influenza A (H1N1). The rest of the samples have been found negative for the virus. Samples of four persons are under process,” the official added.

India reported its first swine flu infection May 16. A 23-year-old man who travelled by Emirates Airline from New York to Hyderabad via Dubai was found positive for the flu.

Health screening of passengers coming from the affected countries continues at 21 international airports and about 1.3 million passengers have been screened so far.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported 19,273 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection from 66 countries with 117 deaths.