The first case of swine flu in the Northeastern region was detected in Nagaland.
The Union Health Ministry is reported to have asked the NE States to step up the surveillance of the disease which has claimed many lives in the country.
Dr T. Pongener, Nagaland nodal officer, said that a woman was tested positive of swine flu. She is now in an isolation ward and under round-the-clock monitoring. She had travelled from Kolkata to Nagaland by air on February 13. Soon after arrival in Nagaland she complained of symptoms of swine flu.
The government has issued an advisory to all other passengers of that particular flight from Kolkata to get tested. Official sources said that surveillance will be stepped up at all airports and bus stations of the inter-State services in all the Northeastern States.
Six more cases of swine flu in Bengal
Kathakali Nandi reports from Kolkata
Six more cases of swine flu were reported from West Bengal on Wednesday, confirmed State Health Services Director B. R. Satpathi. Now the total number of cases has risen to 42. Two women have lost their lives to the H1N1 virus from the State during the month.
“Most of the patients diagnosed with swine flu hail from Kolkata and its outskirts. The situation is totally under control and we have the adequate number of medicines. There is no need to panic,” Mr. Satpathi said.
The virus is a seasonal occurrence and tends to affect people at this time of the year, he added.
All the tests are being conducted at the city’s National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases. As the national death toll crossed 600, Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda on Tuesday reviewed the situation in Gujarat, one of the worst-affected States. He also visited hospitals in the State to review the prevailing facilities.
