Another resident, who was admitted in Government Multi-Specialty Hospital’s isolation ward at Sector 16 a few weeks ago as a suspected case of swine flu (but tested negative), reiterated a similar experience.

“At the airports in Malaysia and Singapore, a physical examination was conducted on passengers with body scanning machines which could gauge the body temperature and single out the suspects. At the Delhi international airport, it is just a simple form-filling exercise. If the patient himself does not tell the doctor that he or she has any symptoms, then they are allowed to go.”

Inder Singh, a resident of Sector 38, who returned from Thailand earlier this month after a week-long trip, says that merely relying on information given by passengers is not a sufficient criteria.

“As such, there have been cases where NRIs have refused to get admitted in hospitals even if they are suspected cases. In such a scenario, a rigorous screening should be undertaken.”

According to city health officials, around 15 suspected cases, all foreign returned, have been admitted in the hospitals here while only one case has tested positive till now.