H1N1 suspects test negative

Over 3,000 airline passengers screened for flu at BIA

The blood samples and throat swabs of ‘Swine Flu or H1N1 influenza A Virus’ suspects from Bangalore, which were sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune and National Institute of Communicable Diseases (Delhi), tested negative, according to unofficial reports on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the scare and confusion continued with one more patient, Daniel, was feared to be infected with H1N1 virus. He was referred from Victoria Hospital to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD). After examination he was diagnosed with only viral diarrhoea. Shivkumar, (40), who arrived from USA and later, reportedly developed flu symptoms, underwent a detailed investigation at RGICD as he showed symptoms of Swine Flu on Monday. Both, his blood samples and throat swabs were sent to the Institute to NIV, Pune and NID, Delhi. While, official reports have not been sent, sources said, the samples tested negative.

Daniel, who had travelled to Mexico on a business trip and returned to Bangalore on April 24 via Amsterdam, also developed abdomen pain, fever and diarrhoea, recently. After news reports on H1N1 flu, Daniel who took ill, went to a nursing home from where he was sent to Victoria Hospital, from where he was referred to RGICD. However, he was diagnosed with viral diarrhoea by the doctors there.

No cause for worry

When contacted, Director of Health Services, Government of Karnataka, Usha Vasunkar said, “ There is no cause for worry. All precautions are being taken.”

Health Commissioner Shrinivasachari said, “A total of 18,161 international passengers have been screened till date. These include, incoming passengers at the BIA and Mangalore airport.” Doctors at BIA screened more than 3,000 passengers upto 8 pm on Wednesday, with all of them testing negative.