Press Trust of India / New Delhi Jun 16, 2009, 20:24 IST
A nine-year-old boy today tested positive for swine flu taking the total number of cases to 31 in the country even as the government said the US should "suo motu" start screening outbound passengers for symptoms of the disease.
New Delhi has also asked the developed countries to take action to contain and check the spread of swine flu at their end which would help stop the spread of the infection to the developing nations.
The fresh case was reported from Hyderabad where the boy arrived on June 14 from from New Jersey via London. "He has tested positive. He is on treatment. All his contacts are being traced," a Health Ministry official said.
Three passengers, including a staffer of a leading international airlines, have been quarantined at a hospital in Bangalore while a 22-year-old passenger was hospitalised in Kochi with symptoms of swine flu.
Of the 31 cases, 11 have been discharged. Rest of the passengers are all stable, the official said.
With mounting cases of swine flu in people coming from US, the Health Ministry said the US should "suo motu" start screening outbound passengers for symptoms of the disease.
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Trivedi said the US is the "main source" of the virus for India with many travellers from that country testing positive for the flu.
RE: INDIA says US should screen passengers re: B-S Dt. 17th June, 2009--Can the Airport and Immigration Authorities at INDIA's International airports consider putting the SWINE FLU' passenger back on the airlines on which the passenger travelled, and also insists that Airport Authorities at the Foreign Port of Departure consider insisting on Medical Certificate from the Family physician of the passengers boarding planes?
As Passengers arriving with SWINE Flu' symptomps potentially put the other other patients at RISK in the Hospital where they are admitted for TREATMENT, put heavy burden on Hospital Staff and Admn, The concerned hospitals should consider CLAIMING higher FEES and compensation from such afflicted passengers.
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