M A I N   N E W S

First swine flu case in UP
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 23
India is learnt to be getting the support of most of the Influenza-A H1N1-affected nations in advising the passengers with active symptoms to consider aborting their travels.

Sources in the health ministry today said foreign ministry was in touch with other swine flu-infected countries that are already, on their part, counselling passengers with a potential to spread the infection, not to travel. There has, however, not been much progress on the front of asking the US to exit screen passengers, as demanded by health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

“Sovereign nations would like to take their own decisions in this regard,” ministry sources today said, as five new swine flu cases were detected in India, taking the number to 68. The good news is that 41 of these cases have been treated and discharged.

Uttar Pradesh today witnessed its first case of H1N1 infection, while three fresh cases surfaced in the capital, one being indigenous. So far, India has recorded seven cases of secondary infections (caught from persons who came from infected nations, especially the US, UK and Canada).

Of these seven, five are in Delhi alone, with doctors admitting to The Tribune that they have had problems getting the cooperation of Delhi patients. “Many of those who got down with the infection in Delhi have failed to cooperate with us, a reason why we had to invoke the Epidemic Prevention Act here,” said a health ministry official.

Meanwhile, work on vaccine production is on, with the government reviewing the proposals sent by the Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech and Panacea Biotech. Some major development on the front is expected next week, with the health minister still out of the capital.

The government, meanwhile, said it had no plans to change combat strategy, adding that it had so far succeeded in containing the infection. “So far 20 lakh people have come from affected countries. Our infections are still below 100, which show that our containment strategy is working. We will look at the possibility of home quarantine only when we feel the numbers have become unmanageable for government health facilities. Our battle against the virus depends on people’s cooperation. They must self report the symptoms and not travel if they have any,” said Dr VM Katoch, director, health research, in charge of vaccine production efforts.

It is also learnt that thermal scanners installed at the Delhi airport are yielding quick results. The government might install more machines at other airports, sources said. Of the 504 persons tested so far in India for swine flu, 68 have been found positive for Influenza A H1N1.

Pune techie tests positive
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, June 23
Twenty four-year-old software professional has tested positive for the H1N1 or swine flu, according to the Health Department officials.

The software engineer had returned home after visiting the US. After exhibiting symptoms of swine flu on June 20, a local doctor sent him to the Naidu Hospital in Pune. The patient was quarantined even as throat swabs were sent for testing. The tests came positive, doctors announced in Pune today.