Two cases of swine flu detected in Manipur out of 6 samples sent for coronavirus testing

GUWAHATI: Six samples from Manipur which were sent to National Institute of Virology in Pune tested negative for coronavirus. But two samples out of those sent tested positive for swine flu.

"We have received three reports so far. Though none of them tested positive for coronavirus, swine flu has been detected in two of them," said Director of Manipur Health Services K Rajo.

Out of the two positive cases of swine flu, one had just returned from China whereas the other contacted it after coming in contact with the first person.

The two people have been detected with mild symptoms and have been isolated in their homes.

Just recently, two people in Mizoram capital Aizawl, who had returned to the state from China in early January, were kept under house quarantine in view of the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus in the neighbouring country. An official of Mizoram Health Department said that though both the person did not show any sign of being infected with the virus and both of them tested negative for the deadly virus, they were put under house quarantine as a precautionary measure.

In view of the novel coronavirus threat in China, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) with the help of the concerned State governments has set up screening and testing counters in most of the airports of northeast India.

“No case of the coronavirus suspect has been detected in the northeast India. No reason to be panicky. None should hide any kind of symptoms. Airlines have been asked to give announcement before landing so that the doubtful or suspected passengers could be able to screen and test them,” AAI Regional Executive Director (NER) Sanjeev Jindal had said.

Assam has sounded an alert to prevent the spreading of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The State Health Department is maintaining a close watch over the situation and holding discussions with the Airports Authority of India to check passengers’ travel history at the entry and exit points of Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport at Borjhar to identify any possible carrier of the virus.

A surveillance team is already working to take the necessary steps. The Health Department has made arrangements to isolate patients infected with novel coronavirus.

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