NRI with suspected swine flu symptoms leaves hospital despite doctors' advice

A London-based NRI who was admitted to a Delhi hospital morning with suspected swine flu symptoms left the hospital on his own despite doctors suggesting that he stay for three days, the doctors said.

A London-based NRI who was admitted to a Delhi hospital on Saturday morning with suspected swine flu symptoms left the hospital on his own despite doctors suggesting that he stay for three days, the doctors said.

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The 35-year-old man was screened for influenza A (H1N1) (as swine flu is officially called) symptoms at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). After he was found to have a running nose, cough and throat irritation, he was admitted to the isolation ward of the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital.

Hospital Medical Superintendent N.K. Chaturvedi told IANS: "He left the hospital on the pretext of staying with his relatives in Delhi. We did try to tell him that the weather is very bad and he should stay in the hospital."

However, Chaturvedi said that the man did not have fever and doctors are of the view that he could test negative for the flu.

"We have collected his clinical samples and sent them to NICD (National Institute of Communicable Diseases) for laboratory tests. The report is expected within 24 hours," he said.

The hospital took down the address where the man planned to stay and his contact details of the man, Chaturvedi added.