District magistrate among 126 swine flu patients in Bihar

Patna, March 11 (IANS) The district magistrate of Aurangabad is among the 126 people who have so far tested positive for swine flu in Bihar, officials said on Wednesday.

Navin Chandra Jha, an IAS officer, tested positive after returning from a visit to Pune, Mumbai and Varanasi.

"After I returned from my visit outside the state, I developed some symptoms and yesterday (Tuesday) tested positive for swine flu," Jha said.

Jha has been advised full rest and isolation at his official residence.

Pradeep Das, director of the Patna-based Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, which is the nodal testing centre of the state for swine flu, said that 126 cases of swine flu have been detected in Bihar till Tuesday.

He said more than 300 people have been tested for swine flu across the state so far.

Health Minister Ramdhani Singh said that an alert has been issued and officials have been asked to take measures to treat such patients.

"There is no need to panic, the state government is alert and officials have been asked to monitor the situation," he said.

No swine flu death has been reported in the state so far.