Seven kids among nine new swine flu cases, tally 260

New Delhi: Nine people, including seven children, were detected with swine flu, taking the total number of influenza A (H1N1) cases to 260 so far in the country, health officials on Thursday.

"So far 1,354 people have been tested, of whom 260 have tested positive for influenza A (H1N1)," a statement issued here said.

"Of the 260 positive cases, 159 have been discharged. The rest remain admitted to the identified health facility," it said.

The nine confirmed cases reported on Thursday were two each from Delhi, Gurgaon and Hyderabad and one each from Bangalore, Dehradun and Mumbai.

Officials said one of the cases in Delhi is of a six-year old boy, who travelled from Chicago by American Airlines and reached Delhi July 9. He exhibited the flu symptoms only on July 15 and was admitted to hospital.

The other case is of a 12-year-old boy, who had travelled from Newark in the US and reached Delhi on July 14. He was detected with flu symptoms at the airport and was admitted to hospital.

On Thursday, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in Lodhi Estate shut down Section A of its Class 9 for a week after a student tested positive for the influenza A(H1N1), said the school management on Thursday.

The school took the decision after a girl's parents informed the school that she has been tested positive for the swine flu.

"As a precautionary measure we have decided to shut the class section. We have asked all her classmates to report to the hospital if they show flu like symptoms," the school management said.

The school has also collected the names and addresses of students who travelled in the school bus along with the girl.

"Students have been distributed leaflets about do's and don'ts related to swine flu and a list of nearest government health facility available to handle swine flu," said the mother of a Class 6 student of the school.

In Gurgaon, two girls, nine and 13 years - both of who had returned from Edinburgh, tested positive for the swine flu.

In Hyderabad, of the two cases, one 13-year-old boy, tested positive for the flu. The boy had come to Hyderabad from Australia via Kuala Lumpur.

A 19-year-old boy from Dehradun tested positive for the virus on Thursday, officials said.

In Mumbai, a 17-year-old boy who had come from Britain, was detected with the virus.

Health officials said there is no need to panic and no need to close schools or institutions before anyone is detected with the flu.