Bhutan got the Swine Flu

The worldwide panic Swine Flu, which has spread over 135 countries, has finally entered this tiny kingdom, as per the health officials in Thimphu.

According to reports, the A H1N1 virus has been detected in four Bhutanese, who were tested positive – two of them detected within the country.

The two cases detected on Monday are a three-year-old girl and a 38-year-old woman, both residents of Thimphu but from different families.

Official suspect that the women got it from someone who returned or came from abroad and express fear that the pandemic might have already spread more. It is reported, they have started recovering.

A 38-year-old man, pursuing his master’s in Bangkok, was the first Bhutanese to be infected by the flu. He had left Bhutan on June 4, fell ill on June 12 and 13 and by June 16 tested positive. Doctors said he got the flu in Bankok itself.

The other Bhutanese to get the flu was one of eight students, who were in Japan on a study tour. She was treated and recovered in Japan.

Bhutan started surveillance for all kinds of flu in Paro, Thimphu and Punakha from August last year. Samples of people travelling in and out of the country were collected and sent to Bangkok for testing. The last batch of samples was sent on July 10, Kuensel says.

A country with fewer health experts and unhygienic social customs, Bhutan is likely to be affected by the pandemic faster.