Panic seems to be gripping international passengers who are arriving in India. Many of those who had come to the country about a fortnight ago are now voluntarily coming forward for health check-ups. The health ministry’s helpline desk is also being flooded with calls from concerned people.
Many travellers particularly from Mexico, Texas, London, Canada, and New Zealand have voluntarily approached government hospitals for check-ups. However, none of them tested positive for swine flu and most of them did not even have any of the flu’s symptoms. While the health ministry is yet to collate the total number of people who approached the health authorities fearing infection, it says at least four of these passengers had cold and cough which led them to panic. India is so far free of the infection, as no suspected case of swine flu has been found positive .
Three passengers in Delhi and one in Hyderabad were referred to hospitals after they showed symptoms of flu. The samples of all these three who disembarked at Delhi have tested negative for Influenza A while samples of the Hyderabad’s passenger is under test.
SV Prasad, superintendent of the hospital, which has been identified as the nodal centre for handling swine flu cases, told DNA, "The youth was referred to us by the team at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at about 5.30 am on Saturday. We immediately quarantined him and collected his nose and throat swabs and blood samples. We have sent the samples to Delhi for further tests. The results are expected to come in the next 48 hours." According to Prasad, the youth is an Indian.
A 25-year-old man from Texas voluntarily went to New Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia hospital on Friday fearing swine flu symptoms. He complained of a runny nose, cough and even felt feverish. However, it turned out to be an ordinary cough and cold. He was discharged on Saturday. Another London-based NRI was admitted to RML with suspected swine flu infection, but even he tested negative.
The health ministry’s helpline number is being flooded with calls by the general public. “On an average we are getting about 50 calls daily. People with cold and cough are asking us if they are suffering from swine flu,” said Dr Sunil Gupta, who is handling the health ministry’s helpline number.
