Three cases of the influenza A/H1N1 were detected for the first time in Nepal, the Health Ministry of Nepal announced on Monday.

The three infected victims comprised a 38-year old woman, a 44-year old man and an 8-year old boy, all from the same family.

According to eKantipur.com report, the health surveillance team at the Tribhuvan International Airport in the capital Kathmandu had carried out the A/H1N1 virus test for the three who came from the United States through Doha in Qatar and landed in the capital on June 24.

Their samples were collected and sent for confirmation at the National Public Health Laboratory of Nepal in the capital.

The test results were positive, indicating the first ever detection of the deadly virus in the country.

Though no case of A/H1N1 flu was detected before in Nepal, authorities had stepped up surveillance at boarder check-posts and airports to prevent the entry of A/H1N1 virus from other countries.

Director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division Dr Senendra Raj Upreti said that they have deployed 40 rapid response teams throughout the country.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2009)