Two NRIs admitted to Delhi hospital with H1N1 flu symptoms

New Delhi, May 2 (PTI) Two young NRIs, who came from
London and Texas, were admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
here with suspected H1N1 flu symptoms and have been kept under
observation in the isolation ward.

While the 35-year-old London-based Non-Resident Indian
(NRI) was brought to hospital directly from the Indira Gandhi
International Airport Saturday morning, the 25-year-old who
came from Texas got himself admitted to the RML Friday
evening.

"Both of them are under observation in isolation ward. We
have done all tests and samples have been sent to National
Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD)," N K Chaturvedi,
Medical Superintendent of RML, told reporters.

The London-based NRI, who hails from Delhi, developed flu
symptoms during his flight to the national capital from London
and was referred to the hospital after a screening at the
airport, he said.

"He has a running nose, sore throat and cold but has no
fever. He will be kept under observation for the next three
days," Chaturvedi said.

The Texas-based youth, who landed in Delhi on April 19
and had fever for two days on April 24, turned up at the
hospital last evening, Chaturvedi said adding the man, who
hails from adjoining Ghaziabad, later became asymptomatic.

"However, due to media coverage, he himself turned up
at the hospital. We have kept him under observation in the
isolation ward. As of now there are no symptoms," he said.

A senior Health Ministry official said four to five
persons were brought to RML in the past 24 hours but they were
discharged as they did not show any symptoms of the H1NI flu.

Chaturvedi said two others were brought to the
hospital suspecting that they could be carriers of flu but it
later turned out that they have liver problems.

He said RML is fully equipped to handle cases of H1N1
flu.

"We have a full-fledged isolation ward which has 30
beds. There are 20 doctors and 12 nurses on duty. We also have
1,000 Tamiflu tablets. If there is a shortage of Tamiflu
tablets then the NICD will provide it," he said.

The team of doctors comprises general physicians, ENT
specialists, paediatricians and micro-biologists, he said.

The RML also has 100 medical kits which consists of
protective gowns, gloves, eye-gears, syringes and scissors.

With the H1N1 flu spreading to more countries across
the globe, the Government has said a total of 2,000
passengers, who have come in from the affected countries, have
already been tracked and are being kept under watch.

The Centre has also decentralised its stockpile of
Oseltamivir, the drug which is most effective against the
virus and Personal Protection Equipments (PPE) for the health
workers. PTI SPC
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