Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Aug 11: The number of suspected H1N1 cases is increasing in the twin-districts by the day. While seven more suspected cases came up in Udupi district on Monday August 10, Dakshina Kannada district reported five additional suspected swine flu cases. In Udupi, four swine flu cases have been confirmed so far, all of them in Manipal.

A 11 year-old boy from Mannagudda in the city, a student each from Suratkal NITK, local KMC Medical College and Sahyadri college, apart from a medical practitioner in the city, are suffering from swine flu symptoms. Their nasal swabs have been sent for clinical examination. With this, the total number of swine flu cases in the district, has risen to 26.

Out of the test reports received in respect of 17 suspected cases, presence of H1N1 virus was confirmed in six patients. In the case of nine patients, reports are awaited.

Two swine flu cases were confirmed in Manipal, while two more suspected cases also tested positve. Udupi district survey officer of the health department Dr Rohini announced that two suspected cases were reported from Manipal, at a press conference held on Monday. She said, the presence of swine flu had been confirmed in respect of a Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) student and an employee of MIT canteen. Both the suspected swine flu patients are MIT students, she added.

A separate clinic has been opened at Manipal Hospital for attending to swine flu suspect cases, said medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr T S Raghu. District health officer Dr M R Nayak, in-charge deputy commissioner of the district N S Prasanna Kumar, pro-chancellor of Manipal University Dr H S Ballal, registrar Dr G K Prabhu, district surgeon Dr Dayanand Nayak, KMC dean Dr Sripati Rao, virologist Dr Arun Kumar and Dr Verma were present.

The report of the two suspected patients received later in the day confirmed that both of them have tested positive to the presence of H1N1 virus.