Guwahati, Dec 16 : Health authorities in Assam Wednesday sounded a fresh swine flu alert after two people, including a doctor at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH), tested positive for the H1N1 virus.

A health department spokesperson said a doctor at the GMCH, Rajib Rai Baruah, who was down with flu-like symptoms for the past few days tested positive for swine flu Wednesday.

On Tuesday, a college girl from Jagiroad, 56 km east of Assam's main city of Guwahati, tested positive for the virus.

"Both the swine flu-positive patients are now lodged at the GMCH isolation ward. Their health status is being monitored and both are stated to be stable," a doctor at the GMCH said.

A general health alert was sounded with reports that at least a dozen more samples were being sent to the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) at Lahowal in eastern Assam for confirmation.

"The alert has been sounded as there are chances of swine flu spreading once again with the onset of winter," Parthajyoti Gogoi, regional director, health and family welfare (northeast) of the central health ministry, told IANS.

Authorities convened a high-level meeting to issue directives to the concerned officials regarding the precautionary measures to be taken.

Over 22,000 people all over India have been infected with the swine flu virus that has so far claimed 730 lives. (IANS)