The Hindu : Front Page : A (H1N1): India in ‘containment stage’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 12, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

A (H1N1): India in ‘containment stage’

Aarti Dhar

NEW DELHI: Though the World Health Organisation on Thursday declared an A (H1N1) influenza pandemic, putting the affected countries on the highest alert, India continues to be in the ‘containment stage’ (classified as grade IV).

“The disease has not spread in India and there are no clusters, so we continue to be in the lower level,” Vineet Chowdhury, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said.

With four more patients testing positive for A (H1N1) influenza, the number of flu cases in India has gone up to 15. Swab reports of five suspected cases are awaited. Of the four cases that tested positive, three had travelled from the U.S. and one from the U.K.

Countries take their own decision on declaring a pandemic. While the affected countries had gone into “treatment stage” several weeks ago, India ranked much lower and maintained the status. “The assessment is based on the prevailing situation. This does not mean that we lower our guard. Our preparedness will be high and screening at the airports will continue,” Mr. Chowdhury said. The situation is being monitored.

An 18-year-old young man, who arrived at the Delhi airport on June 7 with complaints of fever and sore throat, was isolated at the R.M.L Hospital, where he tested positive for the flu.

Another passenger, a 25-year-old woman, travelled to Delhi from New York and reported to a health facility on June 9. The third case is that of a 41-year-old man who travelled to Goa from London transiting Mumbai on June 4. He is now isolated at Chiklim in Goa.

The fourth case is that of another woman (41) who travelled from Haiti (transiting New York) reaching Delhi on June 5 by AI flight.

Meanwhile, of the five new suspected cases, three are in Delhi, one at Bangalore and one Goa, where they are isolated at the identified health facility.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page