H1N1 in India

The deadly H1N1 influenza virus that has till now infected over 8,500 people and killed 70 in 36 countries has finally made inroads into India. The health ministry on Saturday confirmed the country’s first positive case of H1N1 infection in a 23-year-old IT student from the University of Minnesota (US), who arrived in Hyderabad on May 13. He was quarantined at the Government General and Chest Hospital soon after he landed at Rajiv Gandhi International airport from New York via Dubai, when airport health officers detected in him flu-like symptoms—fever, cough and upper respiratory infection. His nasal swabs were then sent to NICD (Delhi) and NIV (Pune) which were confirmed for H1N1 infection on Friday afternoon. He was immediately administered with tamiflu, the only known effective anti-viral against H1N1 infection.It was then found that the student picked up the infection from his friends in New York, who too were down with flu. He had stayed with these friends before heading to India. Joint secretary in the health ministry Vineet Chawdhry said, “The passenger had symptoms of flu even before he left the US.’’ Another official said, “It is shocking that the US, which is supposedly carrying out exit screening of all passengers flying out, let somebody travel even when he had flu-like symptoms. We will inform the WHO of this serious lapse.’’ The Centre is also upset with the Emirates Airlines, which had carried the infected passenger on the New York-Dubai-Hyderabad flight. The airline did not inform health officers at Hyderabad airport that they were carrying a passenger with flu-like symptoms, even though it is now mandatory to do so, much before the aircraft lands. This has made matters more difficult for India, which is now tracking down 150 people who had travelled with the H1N1 infected passenger from Dubai in the same flight. Officials fear the copassengers too could have been infected. Chawdhry said, “All the co-passengers have been identified and contacted. They are spread across Andhra Pradesh.’’ Union health secretary Naresh Dayal said, “The condition of the infected passenger isn’t serious and he should be okay in a week.’’ Dayal added, “We appeal to all passengers who travelled in flight EK-524 that reached Hyderabad on May 13 to self monitor for influenza-like illness and to provide their contact details to the ministry on toll free number 1075 or 1800-11-4377 or Andhra Pradesh’s control room at Chest hospital—040-23814939.’’ Doctors can then visit them and check their health condition. The co-passengers have also been advised to remain under home quarantine for a week.