Suspected bird-flu case in Meghalaya
The Meghalaya Health Department was today sent into a tizzy following a suspected case of bird flu admitted at the Shillong Civil Hospital today. State Director of Health Services Dr KH Lakiang said one Anjalina Paslain (21) has been admitted with "fever and rashes' and has been kept in the "isolation ward'. "The blood and stool samples of the victim has been collected, and will be sent for tests for Bird Flu virus to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases in Delhi tomorrow,' he said, adding, "Nothing can be said as of now.' While not ruling out the possibility of Bird Flu, Dr Lakiang said the tests have been done for "prevention' and "diagnosis'. District Surveillance Officer (Integrated Diseases Surveillance Cell) Dr M Basaiawmoit and other senior officials of the Health Department also did not rule out the possibility, but said nothing can be confirmed till the tests results. Two specialists doctors attending the victim refused to divulge much but at the same time did not rule out the possibility. "Nothing can be said. Certain respiratory problems also have similar symptoms. We have to wait for the test results to come. It will take three to four days,' they said, requesting not to be named.