Mumbai’s first swine flu patient isolated...

...while his family has been advised to stay at home

Mumbai's first swine flu patient isolated...

...while his family has been advised to stay at home

These were the last words of the 36-year-old swine flu patient (whose name has not been revealed) before he left for Kasturba Hospital's isolation ward from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on Thursday. The patient's family is now being advised house arrest to rule out any further chances of infection on Saturday.

The patient himself is confined to a 10x12 cubicle at Kasturba Hospital's isolation ward. "He is co-operating and we have started the course of medication for him," said hospital superintendent Umesh Aigal.

The patient who walked in to Kokilaben hospital on Thursday afternoon was eager to be treated as soon as possible when his symptoms first led to suspicion of him being infected with the H1N1 virus. "He came in with high fever, chills, congested throat and other symptoms. Once we advised him to go to Kasturba, he was ready to do so for the sake of his family," said the hospital's travel clinic in charge Dr Tanu Singhal.

A team from the BMC and the state health department visited the patient's home in Andheri on Saturday and have conducted preliminary checks on the patient's wife and child as well as the patient's parents and brother who all live in the same home.u00a0 "They have all been put on Tamiflu and have been directed house isolation to avoid the spread of infection," said Dr Pradeep Awate, head of the state's influenza cell.

At least 15 people including the family who have been in contact with the patient will now be on Tamiflu as a precaution. Executive health officer Jairaj Thanekar said that the family were not displaying any visible symptoms just as yet.

Following the state's first case, preparedness has been stepped up at all centres with district hospitals instructed to keep at least five beds for patient isolation on standby.

There are 56 confirmed swine flu cases in the country so far.

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