Swine flu: 3 more cases in India,total upto 8

New Delhi: Swine flu which seemed to be distant to India now seems closer than ever. The alarming news is that three new Swine flu cases have now been reported from Hyderabad which takes the total number of confirmed cases in India to eight.

The two confirmed cases have been reported from Hyderabad Chest hospital.

The latest victims are a five-year-old girl and her mother who flew from Philadelphia to Hyderabad on British Airways flight 277 on June 2. Another victim is the brother of the last confirmed case who had flown in from Philadelphia on the same flight.

Co-passengers of the flight are currently being tracked since these are cases of human-to-human transmission.

"We can't obviously ask every foreign traveller who comes here to stay quarantined for three to four days and then join their family. It is not possible at all, so some of these situations are inevitable," says Andhra Pradesh Principal Secretary (Health), L V Subramanyam.

The total number of confirmed cases in India now stands at eight and experts say international travel is the primary cause behind these numbers.

"These cases are coming from foreign countries. If we close our borders and restrict travel, we will be safer," says Swine Flu Nodal Centre at the Hyderabad Chest Hospital, Dr Subhakar.

Meanwhile, experts said they will get stricter regarding airport screenings.

"This can cause havoc in the society and people will have to get screened at airports. It's not like they can say we will not get screened and walk off. If anyone does that, we will give orders to arrest them and put them in prison," says L V Subramanyam.

Doctors advise that you get yourself tested if you have any of the following symptoms: