Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) A man of Indian origin who arrived from London at the international airport here Saturday morning has been admitted to a hospital with suspected swine flu, while another NRI who was quarantined with symptoms of infection has tested negative, an official said.
The 35-year-old man from London was subjected to screening for influenza A (H1N1) symptoms at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). He was found to have a running nose, cough and throat irritation. He was admitted to the isolation ward of the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital, its medical superintendent N.K. Chaturvedi told IANS.

“We have collected his clinical samples and they have been forwarded to NICD (National Institute of Communicable Diseases) for laboratory tests. He will be kept under observation for the next three days,” Chaturvedi said.

Another 25-year-old man from Texas, who came to the RML hospital Friday with swine flu symptoms, was discharged Saturday after he tested negative for the infection.

The NRI from Texas landed in India April 19 and had fever for two days. He turned up at the hospital Friday evening after seeing media reports.

In the last two days, five more people were brought to RML but all tested negative for the virus, a health ministry official said.

According to Chaturvedi, the hospital is fully equipped to handle the flu and has a dedicated team of doctors to treat infected people.

“We have a full-fledged isolation ward with 30 beds. There are 20 doctors and 12 nurses on duty. We also have 1,000 Tamiflu tablets. If there is a shortage of Tamiflu tablets then the NICD will provide it. RML also has 100 medical kits which consist of protective gowns, gloves, eye-gears, syringes and scissors,” he said.

Swine flu, which is now being called influenza A (H1N1) by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has been spreading rapidly with over 450 confirmed cases being reported the world over.

India has increased surveillance at all international airports and ports with passengers from swine flu infected countries undergoing mandatory medical checks.