2 Pune students quarantined with suspected swine flu

BHAVNAGAR: Two cases of suspected H1N1 influenza were reported from the city in past 48 hours. Both are 19-year-old students from Pune; while one is from the city, the other is a native of Amreli district.

According to officials of district health department, 19-year-old Abhishekh Shah showed symptoms of the infection after he came to the city from Pune on the night of August 13. Shah, a resident of Siddharth Aparments in Sardarnagar, was taken to a private hospital from where doctors have sent his throat swabs for testing to Ahmedabad. "He has not been hospitalized, but has been quarantined at home. We are waiting for his reports," an official said.

On Saturday evening, Kamlesh Dhakan, 19, was brought to the city's Sir Takhtsinghji Hospital with severe cough, cold and fever. Dhakan, a resident of Hadala village of Balsara taluka of Amreli district, is also a student in Pune. "Dhakan has been admitted to the hospital. We have sent his samples for testing to Ahmedabad," an official from the hospital said.

Meanwhile, six patients, including two well-known neurosurgeons of the city, have been admitted to Rajkot Civil Hospital. One of the patients is the 13-year-old daughter of one of the surgeons. On Sunday evening, doctors could not give confirmation on their status as they are awaiting reports of their throat swabs.