Malaysian coach stable, test report expected on Thursday: BWF

HYDERABAD: A day after swine flu scare has hit the on-going World badminton Championship here, the game's apex body (BWF) on Wednesday said the
Malaysian coach, who was admitted in a hospital with suspected H1N1 symptoms, was in a stable condition and his test results are expected on Thursday.

"The coach is in a better condition now and he had no fever for the last 36 hours, which is a good indication as it suggests that he doesn't have the H1N1 virus," BWF chief operating officer Thomas Lund said.

"The coaches who were in close contact with the victim also doesn't have any symptoms," he said.

A swine flu scare has rocked the World championship on Tuesday after a Malaysian coach, whose name was not disclosed on request, was admitted to a city hospital with symptoms of the deadly disease.

The news spread like a wild fire and by the time the day was over there were rumours of similar cases emerging, the most potent of which was of a Thailand player visiting the hospital with fever.

Consultant and Head of the Department of Emergency Medicine, Apollo Hospital Dr Mahesh Joshi dismissed the reports.

"No player, coach or any official has any symptoms of swine flu and neither anyone has been sent to the hospital," Dr Joshi said.

"However, we are not lowering our guard and keeping up the medical screening and taking all precautions."