Pune student becomes first swine flu case in Assam

Dhiraj Yadav, an 18-year-old student from Assam who was studying in Pune, has been diagnosed with swine flu. He is the first case of swine flu in the north-eastern state.

Yadav, a resident of Beltola Survey area in Guwahati, was admitted to Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Civil Hospital on August 13.

Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Bishwa Sharma has urged citizens not to panic as the patient had already been isolated at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Assam government is procuring additional equipment and medicines to face the eventuality of an outbreak of the disease. "We are in a state of complete preparedness to tackle the situation if any H1N1 influenza case is detected here," Dr Sharma informed.

To keep a check on outsiders entering the state, Dr Sharma said helpdesks had been set up at the railway stations and leaflets were being distributed at bus depots and airports.

"Voluntary disclosure is the only effective and fast way to detect the people infected with the virus and we are stressing on awareness," he said.