China helps India track suspected H1N1 case

In an act of unprecedented international concern, China helps India by informing the country of a passenger travelling from Mexico to India via Shanghai

As reported by TNN, On Monday China informed India of a passenger who travelled from Mexico to India via Shanghai. In the wake of the highly contagious H1N1 flu, such information is vital.The gesture was much appreciated by World Health Organization. The flight landed from Mexico in Shanghai on May 1st. Once the passengers had been screened a single suspected case was isolated and samples were taken which tested positive. Officials feared that other passengers might have contracted the virus it being contagious and air-borne. Indian Authorities were eventually able to track down the passenger to Andhra Pradhesh where he was tested. While he was clinically exempt of the infection as he did not show any symptoms, he has been kept on home isolation. "Inter-country cooperation is in full swing. Information on the suspected Indian case was given by the Chinese authorities to the Indian embassy in Beijing which, in turn, alerted us on Monday morning. By Tuesday afternoon, we tracked down the passenger to a town in Andhra Pradesh. He is under observation but is clinically clear. No samples have been drawn from him," health ministry joint secretary Vineet Chawdhry said. Chawdhry added, "In a contained environment like in an aircraft, the contamination rate with viral infections among passengers is very high through coughing and sneezing." Speaking to the TOI from Geneva, WHO's assistant director-general Dr Keiji Fukuda said, "Such cooperation is the heart of the International Health Regulations brought about by WHO in 2005. Cooperation between countries start with sharing vital information that is known, as fast as possible."