Popular talk show host Oprah Winfrey has cancelled a low-key trip to India over fears of the H1N1 epidemic.
Sources said Winfrey planned to visit the birthplace of Hanuman and then fly to Goa on May 5 and meet up with her guide, Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat.
However, the trip was cancelled at the last minute after Winfrey was advised to stay at home, reported Contactmusic, which is a UK based entertainment magazine/webzine.
US statesman Rajan Zed said: “She was planning to visit Hanuman’s birthplace near Hampi, about 300 km from Goa airport. Anjanadri Hill near Anegundi is believed to be the birthplace of Hanuman. There is a Hanuman temple on the hilltop.”
“There has been an increased interest in Hanuman the world over ever since it became known that US president Barack Obama carried a tiny statue of the Hindu god during his 2008 election campaign for good luck,” he said.
“Hanuman is revered by Hindus. There are numerous temples dedicated to him,” Zed said.
Meanwhile, samples of two passengers arriving at Bangalore international airport were sent for H1N1 tests after they displayed flu-like symptoms. The results will be known by Friday.
India has so far conducted laboratory tests on 24 passengers for H1N1 infection. All the passengers have tested negative. On Thursday, 35,403 passengers were screened at airports across the country, out of which 6,009 were from the affected countries.
Health officials said several passengers who had arrived before the screening were volunteering to get themselves tested.
With inputs from Vineeta Pandey in New Delhi
