Chennai: Employees at Tondiarpet diesel loco shed are jittery after one of their colleagues tested positive for swine flu. While the state health department has admitted to one person undergoing treatment for swine flu at Perambur Railway Hospital, railway sources confirmed that the patient was from Tondiarpet shed, where over 340 workers report to duty daily. The patient was identified as V.M. Ganesh, a technician.

However, railway bosses at the shed have only counseled the 300 odd workers there even as the latter think it is necessary to hold a screening camp. “He worked even a few days before being admitted to the railway hospital, on February 23. The hospital initially treated him for common cold. It took some effort to get him admitted there. He was admitted mainly after King’s Institute confirmed it to be a positive case of H1N1,” a source in the shed requesting anonymity told this paper.

“Two others have reported illness after his admission. They have not reported back to duty. We do not know whether it is ordinary illness or swine flu. Our bosses here managed to get a railway hospital nurse only to educate us. What if the strains of the virus are still active here? What if the patient had spread it in his locality? What if any other affected worker had contaminated his locality? Why cannot they hold a screening camp?” wondered workers.

When asked, chief medical director of Southern Railway Mr T. Anjaiah said, “Two persons were admitted to Perambur hospital. One was an RPF constable and another was Ganesh from the shed. Both were cured and discharged.” Necessary preventive measures and safety protocols are being taken to prevent the disease transmission, he added. A senior officer at the SR headquarters said they were contemplating some screening and awareness programmes for the shed workers.