Gujrat had its first confirmed case of swine flu on Saturday when Somjai Kaphueak, 28, a Thai national, who came to Gujarat as part of a crew to take back a Thai ship from the Kandla port, tested positive for H1N1 virus.

Kaphueak, who had flown to Mumbai on July 1, approached the port health officer with symptoms associated with swine flu. His blood and swab samples were taken and later sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Delhi. The NICD confirmed H1N1 virus. Three people in the state, who had earlier reported to the health officials with similar symptoms had tested negative.

Thailand has recorded seven swine flu deaths and around 1,845 patients have been detected infected with the virus, as on Saturday.

Kaphueak is presently recovering at the Kandla Port Hospital where he will remain till July 10, along with four other quarantined crew members—Itthiphon S, a Thai national and three Filipinos Santiago D, Gonzales R U and Llauderes KO.

“The crew had come by air to Mumbai and then to Kandla. The Health Department has also identified co-passengers who travelled in the three rows ahead and behind the patients, and they are now being monitored. They are likely to have been infected but have not been quarantined at the moment. The patient, who has tested positive, is doing fine,” State Principal Secretary (Health), Ravi Saxena said.