Three swine flu cases, out of the 15 suspected, at the Kanyakumari Medical College Hospital have been tested positive. These cases had been filing since the month of January. Two of these three cases tested positive, are in the infants.

On a sadder note, the three surgeons, two women house surgeons and one male surgeon, who were treating these patients, have also been found with the symptoms of swine flu. After their mop tests were confirmed, they have been kept as out patients and are now on treatment.

Several other cases were also reported in the district at the Help Desks (HHD), which have been located across the region, but the swab tests proved all of them negative. But complaints have also risen up regarding the shortage of adequate equipment and laboratories in many rural Government hospitals, for testing these cases.

Deputy Director of Health Madhusoodhanan said, “During weekends, we are testing most of the construction workers returning from Kerala through Kaliyakkavilai. In the surveillance tests conducted in coastal villages, seven malaria positive cases were identified and have been treated”.

It has also been suggested that in addition to the equipments for testing, the care takers and the doctors treating the patients with swine flu, must also be provided with sufficient vaccines to prevent the spread of the virus.