Thailand may have sent swine flu to Surat

A 34-year-old woman, Tahera Begum Mohin Sheikh, was admitted to New Civil Hospital in Surat late on Saturday night with symptoms of swine flu. Tahera, who complained of breathing problems, fever and cough, had returned from Thailand two weeks back.

She has been kept in a ward specially created at the hospital for patients suspected to be suffering from swine flu. Doctors at the hospital have sent a sample of her throat swab to New Delhi for further tests. Hemant Desai, deputy commissioner in-charge (health & hospital), SMC, said initial tests performed on Tahera had proved negative.

He added that it is unlikely that Tahera is suffering from swine flu as the disease manifests itself within seven days of infection, while it is now a fortnight since she returned from Thailand. Desai further said that Tahera was most probably suffering from asthma. “She is, however, worried that she may have contracted swine flu in Thailand,” he said. “She just wants to be sure that she doesn’t have the disease so that her family members are not put in danger because of her. Doctors have taken her throat swab and sent its sample to New Delhi for further tests.”

Tahera is a resident of Rander. Her family members said she had returned from Thailand two weeks back and, since then, had been ill with various complaints. Two days back, she developed a bad cough. Her family members informed the civic health officials who took her to hospital as a precautionary measure.