Hyderabad: With two more cases of H1N1 flu reported from Hyderabad, the number of confirmed cases in the country has gone up to nine. Four of them had travelled on the same British Airways flight from London to Hyderabad that carried 260 people onboard on May 31.
"We are screening the entire flight after noticing the three cases. Incidentally, two were sitting on the same row and another one row ahead of the infected person. We want to take no chances. Whether or not they show symptoms, we want to go for prophylactic treatment for all on board and also their family members, close contacts including social contacts," said Dr K Subhakar, from Andhra Government Chest Hospital.
Health officials say one reason why Andhra Pradesh is reporting the maximum cases is possibly because there are more number of software professionals from here in countries like the US. Now the task is to try and limit the import of the infection into the country by seeking exit point screening in the affected countries.
After the first indigenous case of H1N1 infection, the NICD has sent in a multidisciplinary rapid response squad with the specific task of examining what is called a cluster to ensure the infection has not spread in the community.