Swine flu symptoms: man quarantined in Kolkata

A passenger was on Wednesday quarantined at the Kolkata International airport for showing symptoms of swine flu. Shyamal Sarkar (35) is the first passenger who was quarantined since the medical check-up at the airport began around April 30. Around 8:40 am on Wednesday,Sarkar,landed in Kolkata on an Emirates flight from Dubai.

“During the medical check-up,he displayed influenza-like symptoms with respiratory problems. He was quarantined and sent to the Infectious Disease (ID) hospital at Beliaghata,” said Dr S Bakshi of the Airport Authority of India.

Sarkar is a resident of Gosainagar in Ranaghat. He moved to Dubai two years ago hoping to get a good job and make some money for his family back home. But he did not get a satisfactory job,informed his in-laws,who had come to see him at the ID hospital.

Three months ago,while he was still in Dubai,his wife Sonali died due to kidney failure leaving behind their nine-year-old son. Sarkar could not come back to India to see his ailing wife and went into depression. “Sarkar also suffered a heart attack a month back. After this,he also lost his job,” said his brother. Medical officers at the ID hospital said,“Sarkar’s swab has been sent for test at NICD Delhi.”