Swine flu: Nepal reports 3 cases

Sabin Chandra Acharya

KATHMANDU: The nation has confirmed the first cases of swine flu, which has been reported around three weeks after the World Health

Organization (WHO) declared Influenza A (H1N1) a global pandemic, raising the alert level to its highest at 6.The Ministry of Health and Population said three patients — all Non-Resident Nepalis and belonging to the same family — who arrived at the Tribhuvan International Airport on June 21 had tested positive to the virus.

The infected comprise the wife (38), husband (44) and their eight-year-old son.

The trio came from the US via Doha, Qatar.

No other details were revealed about the patients to protect their identity. Health officials maintained that they were quarantined once they showed tell-tale symptoms of swine flu — sore throat and high fever — on June 24. The samples of their saliva were sent for test at the recently set up hi-tech laboratory at Teku Hospital.

“Yesterday, the results revealed that they have been infected by the virus. The patients have been kept in isolation. We’re monitoring their condition round-the-clock,” said Dr Senendra Raj Upreti, director, Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. Health authorities said that they had collected details of the rest of the passengers, who

arrived here by the same flight along with the infected persons. Dr Upreti urged them to get in touch with the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division at 4255796 for medical support.

The authorities have woken up to the swine flu threat in earnest.

“We’ve intensified surveillance mechanism at all Early Warning and Response Systems’ sites. All the districts have also been put on high alert,” added Dr Upreti. Dr Laxmi Raman Ban, director, National Health and Information Centre, urged

mediapersons to help health officials and public prevent the spread of the disease, which has created a global panic.

As of June 29, 106 countries, including Nepal, have reported the outbreak of the malady.

On June 11, the WHO had declared it the first global pandemic influenza in 41 years.

Latest figures reveal that five persons have died of swine flu in the Asia-Pacific region.

The outbreak has been reported from neighbouring India and China as well.

More than 450 people have been afflicted with the disease

in China.