Veteran CPI-M leader Gautam Deb down with swine flu

Kolkata: Senior CPI-M leader Gautam Deb has tested positive for swine flu, his doctor said on Tuesday, adding the hospitalised politician's condition is "critical but stable".[caption id="attachment_2121499" align="alignleft" width="380"] Representational image. AFP[/caption]According to Subhashis Chakrabarty, Deb was admitted to the critical care unit of a private hospital here on Tuesday morning, after he complained of respiratory distress."Tests confirmed that he is positive for the HINI flu virus. He is on ventilation and is using sign language for communication. His condition is critical but stable," Chakrabarty told a TV channel here.Swine flu has claimed 21 lives in West Bengal since January and the number of positive cases has gone up to 323 as on Monday.PTI