Almost a week after Narendra Modi was tested positive for swine flu, three suspected cases from the Health Department were quarantined even as Health Secretary Ravi Saxena was confirmed positive for the virus. Director of Epidemic Dr S J Gandhi, Health Commissioner Dr Mukesh Puri and Additional Health Director Dr Paresh Dave are suspected cases. Tests on Dr Puri confirmed him negative of swine flu.

Health Department officials said a team of doctors administering medicines to Modi was in touch with Saxena. They did not rule out the possibility of Saxena briefing Modi and contracting the virus. A meeting was held between Saxena and the other secretaries on Nov 2, they said.

Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas did not rule out the possibility that some health officials are quarantined. He said: “India is at level pandemic six, which means the H1N1 virus is in the air. One can rule out its absence only after two years. In such a situation there are times when this virus is active and dormant; we cannot rule out its presence.” He added: “But it cannot be said that the suspected cases have occurred due to Modi.”

Elsewhere, four confirmed swine flu cases were reported from across the state. Eleven suspected cases were tested at the B J Medical College and three were reported from Surat. All the cases from Surat were confirmed negative.