Burmese student recovers from H1N1 flu in India

by Nem Davies
Friday, 14 August 2009 12:45

New Delhi (Mizzima) – A Burmese student, studying in Maharashtra state in India, the state worst affected by the H1N1 virus, has reportedly recovered after being treated for five days in a hospital.

The 23-year old Burmese student at the Spicer Memorial College in Pune in Maharashtra was admitted to hospital earlier this month and was treated for five days before he was discharged.

“Doctors prescribed him H1N1 flu medicines for five days and he was later discharged. But he is still under medication and it will continue for about 15 days,” a friend of the youth studying in the same college told Mizzima.

According to the friend, the youth rejoined college on August 3, following a visit to relatives in the United States. He was detected with high fever the next day, and was tested at the hospital, where he was declared infected with type A (H1N1) flu.

At least two other Indian students from the same college were reportedly infected with the virus, causing alarm among college authorities, who instructed students to put on masks. The college was later closed for a week.

“We were told to inform our teachers if we noticed signs and symptoms of the virus and to take care of personal hygiene. College authorities are monitoring the situation during the week long vacation,” Thang Sian Liang said.

The Spicer College has about 500 students out of which there are over 40 Burmese students studying in various fields. While many of the Burmese students have come with legal passports, several of them joined the College after crossing into India through border gates.

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday was forced to declare holiday in schools and colleges for a week, due to the high rate of human infection of the flu.

Students said the campus of colleges and universities are now filled with people wearing masks as a precautionary measure.

India’s Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday officially announced that the human infection of the flu in India has affected 864 people while the latest death toll has reached 17.

Meanwhile, in neigbouring Burma, the government said 19 people have been found infected with the virus so far and most of the infected patients have been recorded as having returned from foreign trips.