Swine flu strikes two in Siliguri

TT, Siliguri, Feb. 24: Two youths admitted to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital here have tested positive for H1N1 virus that causes swine flu, the authorities said today.

Anuj Saikia and Sukhopa Hendrik, both aged 19 and from Golaghat district in Assam, were brought to NBMCH with symptoms of swine flu on Friday and after clinical examination, they were admitted to the isolation unit.

On Saturday, the swab samples of the patients were sent to the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases in Calcutta for conducting the H1N1 test. "The test reports we received this afternoon have confirmed that they are suffering from swine flu," said Sabyasachi Das, the NBMCH superintendent.

Swine flu is caused by the H1N1 virus which originates in pigs and is mutated to affect humans. It affects the upper respiratory system and is accompanied by symptoms such as high fever, cough, fatigue, headache, body ache, sore throat, runny nose, breathlessness and loss of appetite.

Though the two patients are from Assam, they were working in Siliguri, said sources.

Health department officials said there were no reports of anyone else being tested positive for H1N1 in north Bengal in the recent past.