Date:04/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/04/stories/2009070460971300.htm

National

No swine flu death: Azad

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Friday there was no death due to A (H1N1) influenza in the country.

Intervening in the Lok Sabha during a discussion under Rule 193, on the situation arising out of the rapid spread of swine flu in the country, Mr. Azad said the throat and nasal swab of the 51-year-old man who was reported to have died of suspected swine flu in Kollam in Kerala on Wednesday had tested negative for the influenza.

The samples had been sent by the Kerala government to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases at Delhi where they tested negative, Mr. Azad said.

A 51-year-old male, a diabetic for 30 years, with hypertension, coronary artery disease and dyslipedemia, had travelled from the U.K. on March 14, transiting Dubai and Mumbai and reached Thiruvananthapuram on June 12.

As per the database of the Airport Health Organisation (specifically maintained for Influenza A (H1N1)) when he reached Mumbai on June 12 from Dubai, he did not have any symptoms, an official spokesperson said.

He developed fever and cough on June 23, and took medication for viral fever at his native place. His condition deteriorated and he reported to a private hospital at Kottayam in Kollam district where his condition further deteriorated and he expired within two hours of reaching the hospital on July 1.

Earlier initiating the discussion, Sandeep Dikshit of the Congress, asked the government not to lower its guard.