Panaji, Aug 9 (IANS) Four more confirmed cases of swine flu were reported in Goa, taking the total number of Influenza A (H1N1) patients in the state to 11, a health official said Sunday.
The nodal officer for swine flu cases in Goa, Jose D’Sa said the report was communicated to the state directorate of health services telephonically Saturday night from the Delhi-based National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).

“We have not received the reports yet. But according to a telephonic communication from NICD, we have four more confirmed cases of swine flu,” Jose told reporters.

“The patients were being treated from the day they reported to our hospital with swine flu symptoms. They have been admitted to the quarantine ward of the Goa Medical College,” he said.

Jose said the affected people included a family of three, who had recently returned from Hong Kong, while the other patient had travelled back to Goa from Dubai.

Meanwhile, the health department will have a crisis management meeting Monday to enhance mechanisms to screen patients coming into Goa, especially in view of the Ganesh Chaturthi season approaching.

Along with Christmas, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular festivals in Goa, which sees thousands of Goans settled outside the state returning to their ancestral homes to offer prayers to the deity.

“Bus tour operators will be taken into confidence. We are working at that. We will also have a campaign at bus stations and other busy disembarking points to make people aware of swine flu and its symptoms,” Jose said.