2 NRIs with Swine (H1N1) Flu symptoms admitted to Delhi hospital
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, May 2, IRNA -- Two young Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), who came from London and Texas, with suspected H1N1 Flu (earlier referred to as Swine Flu) were admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital in New Delhi and have been kept under observation in the isolation ward.
While the 35-year-old London-based NRI was brought to hospital directly from the Indira Gandhi International Airport Saturday morning, the 25-year-old who came from Texas got himself admitted to the RML last evening.
"Both of them are under observation in isolation ward. We have done all tests and samples have been sent to National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD)," N K Chaturvedi, medical superintendent of RML, told reporters.
The London-based NRI, who hails from Delhi, developed flu symptoms during his flight to the national capital from London and was referred to the hospital after a screening at the airport, he said.
"He has a running nose, sore throat and cold but has no fever. He will be kept under observation for the next three days," Chaturvedi said.
The Texas-based youth, who landed in Delhi on April 19 and had fever for two days from April 24, turned up at the hospital last evening, Chaturvedi said adding the man, who hails from adjoining Ghaziabad, later became asymptomatic.
"However, due to media coverage, he himself turned up at the hospital. We have kept him under observation in the isolation ward. As of now there are no symptoms," he said.
Meanwhile, a senior Health Ministry official said four to five cases were brought to RML in the past 24 hours but they were discharged as they did not show any symptoms of the H1NI flu.
RML is fully equipped to handle any case of H1N1 flu.
"We have a full-fledged isolation ward. There are 20 doctors and 12 nurses there. We have adequate stock of Tamiflu tablets also," said Chaturvedi.
With the H1N1 flu spreading to more countries across the globe, the government has said a total of 2,000 passengers, who have come in from the affected countries, have already been tracked and are being kept under watch.
The Center has also decentralized its stockpile of Oseltamivir, the drug which is most effective against the virus and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for the health workers.
The Ministry of Agriculture has also issued an advisory to all state governments to maintain a precautionary vigil on the swine population for any flu-like symptoms.
The World Health Organisation has raised its tally of confirmed human cases of swine flu to 365 from 331 earlier.
The global body says 13 countries have now reported laboratory confirmed cases.
According to the latest WHO figures released late Friday, the United States has 141 cases and 1 death. Canada has 34 cases, Spain 13 and Britain 8.
New Zealand and Germany have three confirmed cases each, Israel has two, and Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, South Korea and Hong Kong have a case each.
The World Health Organization has raised the pandemic alert to its second highest level.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 464214
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