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A 52-year-old non resident Indian, who was suspected to have contracted swine flu, died shortly after he was admitted to a hospital in Kerala's Kollam district on Wednesday night, a health official said on Thursday.
The throat swabs of Stanley Pelis, who arrived in Kerala two weeks ago from the United Kingdom, have been sent to the National Institute of Communicable diseases, New Delhi, today morning. If confirmed, he would be the first victim of swine flu in the country.
Pelis, hailing from Kollam, was admitted to the Holy Cross Hospital at Kottiyam in the district with high fever and breathlessness at approximately 7 pm on Wednesday night and passed away at 9 pm, said medical director Dr K Shylaja.
Meanwhile, two passengers who arrived at the Kochi airport from the United States and Ireland today morning, have been quarantined with suspected symptoms of the flu.
The two passengers are a 33-year-old man from Pathnamthitta, who arrived from Ireland and a 20-year-old Keralite woman from the US. They have been admitted to the Aluva taluk hospital, hospital sources said. Till now, four persons have tested positive for swine flu in Kerala, she said.