Teen contracts swine flu from sister,first case of local-spread infection

After his sister fell ill on returning from Singapore,the boy also showed flu-like symptoms and was admitted in the GMCH as a suspected case. The National Institute of Communicable Disease,New Delhi,today confirmed swine flu.

With no recent travel history,this is the first case reported in the tricity,where flu has been contracted from within the local environment.

“Unlike the previous five cases in the city where the patient had a travel history,the boy has been infected locally. This is the first close-contact spread of infection reported from here,” said a senior official,adding that the doctors have put the patient on Tamiflu treatment.

City hospitals have recorded six cases of swine flu — two from Chandigarh,two from Mohali and one each from Patiala and Gurdaspur. Three patients have been discharged from hospital.