Swine flu has so far claimed at least ten lives across the border in India. Above: a Mumbai vendor sells a surgical mask outside a local train station. — Photo by AP

FAISALABAD A 14-year-old boy suffering from swine flu was sent home by a hospital on Thursday, allegedly before he had fully recovered.

Abdullah Maqbool of Chak 327-GB, Toba Tek Singh, had returned from Saudi Arabia a couple of days ago. He was taken to the Allied Hospital for a check-up.

He was examined by a general physician and an ENT specialist in the outpatient department.

The boy's father Dr Maqbool Ahmed, who works in Saudi Arabia, told doctors that his son had tested positive for swine flu in Saudi Arabia and he had stayed in a hospital in Bisha from June 14 to Aug 11.

The boy's mother said he had developed flu symptoms around Aug 3, recovered four days later and returned to Pakistan with her after performing Umrah.

He contracted the virus from some Saudi children who were diagnosed with swine flu.

The Allied Hospital has no facility to keep patients in quarantine patients nor equipment for swine flu tests.

The hospital's Medical Superintendent Dr Bashir Ahmed, however, said that medicines for such ailments were available and the boy had been sent home after treatment.

Regional Health Director Dr Mohammad Siddique said a team headed by the executive district officer (health) of Toba Tek Singh had collected blood samples and throat and nasal swaps from the boy's village which would be sent to the National Institute of Health in Islamabad for tests.

He said the boy was in good shape and recovering and, therefore, there was little chance of his spreading the virus.

He said the boy's family had been advised to stay indoors. He said medicines to treat the flu were available in government hospitals.