Swine Flu spreading tentacles, death toll in just three states rises to 300

New Delhi: Swine Flu is assuming serious proportions in the country with more deaths being reported due to the disease in several states in the last few days. The death toll so far in only three states of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh has risen to 300 and many more have tested positive to the virus.
ASSOCHAM estimates that tourism in Rajasthan and Maharashtra has taken a big hit with losses of over Rs 5500 crore due to swine flu.
Eleven more persons have succumbed to swine flu in different parts of Rajasthan, taking the toll due to the H1N1 virus in the state to 153 this year. A senior official of Medical and Health Directorate said while three persons each died of swine flu in Jaipur and Jodhpur, two died in Ajmer, and one each in Nagaur, Bharatpur and Kota.While 33 districts in the state have been afflicted with swine flu, eight districts of Sawaimadhopur, Dholpur, Sirohi, Jalore, Baran, Jhalawar, Pratpagarh, and Rajsamand have not reported any mortality due to H1N1. Out of the 2167 patients testing positive for the virus, 153 have died in the state this year, he said.
So far, Jaipur has reported 26 deaths due to the H1N1 virus, maximum in the state, followed by Ajmer 24, Jodhpur 16, Barmer and Nagaur 13 each, Kota 9, Chittorgarh 7, Banswara 6, and five elsewhere in the state since January.
In Gujarat, 8 more deaths have been reported, taking the death toll in the state to 144.
In Lucknow, 7 new cases of swine flu have been reported, taking the total number of those infected by the disease to 69 in the state capital. The patients have been been admitted to different hospitals, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), SNS Yadav said.
“With this, a total of 69 swine flu patients have been found in Lucknow so far. They are being treated in different hospitals of the city”, he said.
Three persons have died due to the disease in Lucknow. A retired Army officer died of H1N1 virus on January 9, while the wife of a retired jawan died on January 13 in the state capital. A person working in Merchant Navy also died due to swine flu.