Swine flu scare up after 5 cases from two dists

According to S M Kannan, Dean of Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital, the family of four, who were admitted on Saturday, tested positive.

Currently, their condition is said to be stable. However, they would be kept under observation for a few more days in the swine flu ward of the hospital.

They were residents of Maharaja Nagar at Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli.

Stating that high fever, cough, sneeze and sore throat are symptoms of the flu, Kannan said it is a highly communicable disease.

Similarly, a 48-year-old man was admitted to a private hospital in Tiruchy with the symptoms of swine flu on Saturday, while a one-year-old girl from Kumbakonam has also been admitted to a private hospital after she displayed suspicious symptoms.

Sources said, after a number of cases were reported in the two southern states of Kerala and Karnataka, some persons with symptoms of swine flu were admitted to hospitals in different districts in the State.

Ravichandran (48) of Archampatti near Kulithalai in Karur district was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Manapparai since October 6.

On Friday, he reportedly tested positive for swine flu and was referred to a private hospital in Tiruchy.

When contacted Deputy Director (Health) Subramani, while claiming that there has  not been a single swine flu case in Tiruchy, confirmed that one person from Karur has been referred to a hospital in the district.

“The patient, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital is from the neighbouring district of Karur. The man has been brought to Tiruchy for assessment and better treatment. We have been closely monitoring him,” he said.

Meanwhile, on Saturday evening, a one-year-old girl with symptoms of swine flu was admitted to a private hospital in Kumbakonam.