Government refutes reports of swine flu cases in India

The government today denied reports of swine flue incidence in India and refuted reports about ''quarantining of the first identified swine flue case in the country.''

Refuting media reports that a Texas-based passenger, diagnosed with swine flu, has arrived in Hyderabad, authorities at the international airport on Thursday said that no passenger has yet been detected with the disease.

''The 27-year-old passenger returning from Texas, USA, reached Hyderabad on 28 April has reportedly developed symptoms of common cold. He reported to a private hospital for check-up wherein he was referred to the Government Chest Hospital in Hyderabad where he failed to report. This passenger has later been tracked to his residence. He was found healthy with no symptoms of flu and is being followed-up,'' a government press statement said.

''His clinical samples have been taken and are being sent to the identified laboratory. No other suspect case has been identified in the screening,'' the release said.

However, the release said states have been advised to review their preparedness to investigate and contain any suspected cluster of influenza like illness. The central government has issued necessary guidelines to all states and union territories, it added.

Besides, the government has boosted stock of medical supplies like Oseltamivir capsules, personal protective equipments, N-95 masks and three-layered surgical masks.

Supplies have been decentralised and are being kept at regional directors' offices of the ministry of public health and welfare located in 19 cities to meet any emergent requirement of the states, the release added.

The government is monitoring the situation following confirmation by the World Health Organisation of reported human cases of swine influenza, a `A/H1N1' caused by a re-assorted swine flu virus. As of 29 April 2009, nine countries have officially reported 148 cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection with 8 deaths.

USA has reported 91 laboratory confirmed human cases, with one death and Mexico reported 26 cases, including seven deaths.

The other countries which have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths are: Austria (1), Canada (13), Germany (3), Israel (2), New Zealand (3), Spain (4) and the United Kingdom (5). World Health Organisation has raised the pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5 implying wide spread human infection, the release said.

Keeping in view the global scenario, the government said it has instituted a series of preventive actions, including surveillance at ports and international airports, surveillance through integrated disease surveillance units in the states and travel advisory for those traveling to the affected areas to defer non essential travel.

Health screening of passengers has also been started at international airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, the release added.