Swine flu scare hits World Badminton tournament in Hyderabad

After the reported terror threat, influenza A (H1N1) cast its shadow over the World Badminton Championship on Tuesday with the doubles

coach of the Malaysian team displaying symptoms of the viral disease that has killed ten people in India. A Thai doubles player has pulled out of the match after showing flu-like symptoms.
Thailand’s doubles player Tatipat Chahard on Tuesday pulled out of men's doubles match against India after he complained of fever. He has been taken to the hospital.

Earlier, Jeremy Gan, a coach of Malaysian team, was quarantined at the Andhra Pradesh Chest Hospital, the nodal centre to deal with swine flu cases, and his samples were sent for testing for influenza A (H1N1) virus, organisers of the event said.

"The Malaysian doubles coach complained of throat pain last evening. His samples have been sent for testing. We don't want to take any chance. We are taking all precautions," Pullela Gopichand, director of the organising committee and Indian team coach, said.

IANS reported that Gopichand had earlier said the other Malaysian coach, Misbun Sidek, had shown swine flu symptoms.

Since the city has no testing facility, the samples would be sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in New Delhi. The reports are likely to be available on Wednesday.

A player from Singapore was also hospitalised Monday evening due to ill-health. Doctors said he had no visible symptoms of swine flu. The Malaysian coach was found with swine flu symptoms at a time when the virus has created a scare in parts of India, claiming eight lives.

Andhra Pradesh has recorded 76 swine flu cases. India's first confirmed swine flu case was detected on May 16. Some policemen at the venue of the badminton championship were seen wearing masks Monday night.

More than 250 players from 42 countries are competing in the six-day event that began Monday. The championship is the first of the series of world-class sporting events India will host ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

In view of the increasing number of swine flu cases in the country, the health ministry last week advised that festivals, sports, religious and political events should be discouraged and cancelled if possible.

The suspected swine flu case has come as another setback to the event after England pulled out citing security concerns.