Coimbatore reports ten suspected swine flu cases

 Coimbatore reports ten suspected swine flu casesCoimbatore, June 3 : Ten cases of swine flu have been reported by the medical authorities in Coimbatore.

The authorities at the Coimbatore Medical College (CMC), a government run hospital, said, they had quarantined ten patients with suspected swine flu like symptoms, of which three cases, including a child had come to them in the early hours of Wednesday.

One of the junior doctors, Aparna Pasha, who was treating the swine flu suspect cases, was also reported to have developed the symptoms and was under treatment.

Out of the ten patients, two have been confirmed to be suffering from swine flu.

"The two have been started with anti-viral treatment with the capsule Tami Flu. One of the child, who has been affected by the disease, has been given Tami Flu syrup and at present they are both mentally and physically very sound. They do not have any signs and symptoms of fever, vomiting, breathlessness, body pain, running nose and cough," said V Kumaran, dean, CMC.

According to the doctors at the CMC, the government has made adequate arrangements for the medicines at the hospital.

Urging the people not to panic, Kumaran said, India was not susceptible to the spread of H1N1 virus as the temperate climate of the country prevented its growth.

"The Government already sent adequate trucks and other equipments to tackle the disease. This disease is only imported from foreign countries so citizen of India need not panic about the disease," Kumaran said.

The virus, which spreads easily and causes mostly mild disease, has been diagnosed in 17,564 people in 64 countries, killing 115, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Although H1N1 swine flu appears mild, it affects mostly older children and young adults, and experts worry it could change into a more dangerous form.

The spread of H1N1 flu in Australia, Britain, Chile, Japan and Spain has nudged the world closer to a pandemic, the WHO said.

The new flu -- a mixture of swine, bird and human viruses -- remains most prevalent in North America but has infected nearly 19,000 people in 64 countries, according to the WHO''s latest toll, which tends to lag behind national figures but is considered more reliable. (ANI)