India continues to be free of influenza A (H1N1) virus, better known as swine flu, and over 39,000 passengers coming from affected countries have been screened at the airports, health ministry officials said in New Delhi on Friday.
An official said so far they have tested samples of 26
people in India. "All these tests have been found negative for Influenza H1N1. Three samples are under investigation," the official said.
"A total of 39,729 passengers have been screened. A total of 177 doctors and 95 paramedics have been deployed to man 69 counters at the 21 international airports," the official added.
"One person, who disembarked at Hyderabad airport, was suspected of symptoms and has been referred to a health facility," he added.
"As of now, no case has been reported in India. The situation is being monitored," he said.
Screening of passengers coming from affected countries is on at international airports in Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Varanasi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Srinagar, Trichy and Trivandrum.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 24 countries had officially reported 2,384 cases influenza A (H1N1) infection till Friday.
Mexico has reported 1,112 laboratory confirmed cases of human infection, including 42 deaths. The US has reported 896 cases, including two deaths.