4 Jul 2009, 1225 hrs IST

Kochi, The throat swab of the 52-year-old NRI, who died in a hospital in Kerala's Kollam district on July 1, has been found to be negative for swine flu, putting at rest fears that his death may have been caused by the deadly virus.

Deceased Stanley Pelis, who arrived in Kerala two weeks ago from UK, had died of viral pneumonia, Director Health Services Dr K Shyalaja said.

The patient, who hails from Kollam, was suffering from viral fever, which later developed into pneumonia, she said.

Pelis also had Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome and succumbed to the fever on July 1 at a private hospital in Kollam, Shyalaja said.

Six persons, including two children, have been confirmed to be having swine flu in Kerala.

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