Has swine flu entered India?

A London-based NRI who arrived at the international airport in Delhi on Saturday morning has been admitted to a hospital with suspected swine flu infection, an official said.

A London-based NRI who arrived at the international airport in Delhi on Saturday morning has been admitted to a hospital with suspected swine flu infection, an official said.

Doctors at Goa international Airport are examining every tourist that lands in the state. Pic/AFP

The man was subjected to screening for swine flu symptoms at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) and 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 said.

"We have collected his clinical samples and they have been forwarded to the laboratory for tests," Chaturvedi added.

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

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.

The screening drill for swine flu at Mumbai International airport had barely got underway in earnest when a traveler who landed from UK early on Friday gave the health authorities some anxious moments.

The passenger, who was enroute to Hyderabad, was kept back to verify whether he had been affected by swine flu but then allowed to fly on to his destination.

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

The Centre has also decentralised its stockpile of Oseltamivir, the drug which is most effective against the virus and Personal Protection Equipments (PPE) for the health workers. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture has issued an advisory to all state Governments to maintain a precautionary vigil on the swine population for any flu-like symptoms.