A 17-year-old footballer, who had recently returned from UK, on Tuesday tested positive for the H1N1 virus making him the first case of swine flu in Meghalaya.
Dawki-resident Salwit Tongper had returned on August 3 and was admitted at Shillong Civil Hospital with cough, cold and fever on August 8.
"Today we got the report of the throat swab from the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases and it was positive for H1N1 virus," Director of Health Services (DHS) K H Lakiang said.
Another boy Gauranga Paul, who had returned from Bangalore, developed influenza-type symptoms and his nasal and throat swabs were sent for tests.
Maintaining that Tongper's case was imported and not indigenous, Lakiang said the doctors have been asked to examine the people, including his family members, with whom he came in contact with.
"If we find any symptoms in them, we send their throat swabs for tests," he said.
Tongper has been kept in an isolation ward and his condition is improving, Lakiang said.
According to him, the health department currently has around 2,000 Tamiflu medicines and today the Union Ministry of Health has committed to provide another 6,000.
