2 Jul 2009, 1708 hrs IST

Kochi, Kerala: A 52-year-old NRI, who was suspected to have contracted swine flu, died shortly after he was admitted to a hospital in Kerala's Kollam district on Wednesday night, a health official said.

The throat swabs of Stanley Pelis, who arrived in Kerala two weeks ago from UK, have been sent to the National Institute of Communicable diseases, New Delhi, this morning. If confirmed, he would be the first victim of the flu in the country.

Pelis, hailing from Kollam, was admitted to Holy Cross Hospital at Kottiyam in the district with high fever and breathlessness at around 7 p.m. last night and passed away at 9 p.m., Dr K Shylaja, Medical Director, said.

Meanwhile, two passengers who arrived at the Kochi airport from US and Ireland this morning have been quarantined with suspected symptoms of the flu.

The two passengers are -- a 33-year-old man from Pathnamthitta, who arrived from Ireland and a 20-year-old Keralite woman from US.

They have been admitted to the Aluva taluk hospital, hospital sources said.

Till now, four persons have tested positive for the flu in Kerala, she said.

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