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India Confirms Fifth Swine Flu Case

by VR Sreeraman on Jun 6 2009 4:55 PM

India has confirmed a fifth case of swine flu in a man travelling from the United States through London.

According to a Health Ministry statement, the 28-year-old man, who arrived in Hyderabad on May 31, reported symptoms of fever, cold and sore throat.

The Ministry said in a statement issued late Friday that he tested positive for the A (H1N1) influenza strain.

"His close contacts are being traced and advised home quarantine and their health status is being monitored," the statement said.

On June 3, ten cases of swine flu were reported by medical authorities in Coimbatore. Out of the ten patients, two were confirmed to be suffering from swine flu.

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.

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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.

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Source-ANI
SRM


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