Test results conducted on samples of two persons, belonging to Sivaganga district, suspected to be having swine flu have confirmed positive.
Twenty-three-year old Saravanan of Karaikudi and another lady doctor from Tiruppattur in Sivaganga district have tested positive for A(H1N1) influenza on Tuesday.
According to Health Department sources, the officials are on the look out for the two persons and they would be quarantined at the isolation ward of Government Rajaji Hospital here at the earliest.
The Dean in-charge of Government Rajaji Hospital, S. M. Sivakumar, said that the lady doctor from Tirupapttur had given the throat swab samples at Coimbatore and the results confirmed positive on Tuesday. "She had returned from abroad and presently she is at Tiruppattur. The doctor will be treated with Tamilflu tablets and further action will be taken as per swine flu treatment guidelines," Dr. Sivakumar said.
Patient absconding
A senior public health official said that Mr. Saravanan, who was admitted to the Communicable Diseases Hospital at Tondiarpet in Chennai with swine flu symptoms, had escaped from there and returned to Karaikudi even as the test results were yet to come.
"The result is now positive and he will be traced by the health department officials. He will be brought to the GRH in Madurai and we are enforcing the legal provisions under the Public Health Act of Tamil Nadu. District administration is empowered to catch hold of persons who are endangering public health," S. Elango, Director of Public Health, said when contacted.
