New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS) The number of swine flu cases in the country is rising with 629 people testing positive for the influenza A (H1N1) and 58 deaths reported during the last week, the highest for the current year.
According to the health ministry, the highest number of deaths (35) were reported from Maharashtra followed by 10 from Kerala and six from Gujarat. Andhra Pradesh reported three deaths while two people each died in Delhi and West Bengal.
Maharashtra reported the highest number of 273 cases this week, followed by Karnataka with 109 cases. Kerala reported 50 cases while Andhra Pradesh reported 56 cases followed by 44 cases from West Bengal and 40 cases from Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, the health ministry has recommended the use of swine flu vaccines to avoid the threat.
‘The moisture due to monsoon is giving a good breeding ground to the virus. Precautionary measures such as washing of hands, covering the nose and avoiding crowded places must be followed,’ a health ministry official told IANS.
According to the health ministry, 1,750 deaths have been reported due to swine flu since its outbreak in May last year while 246 deaths have taken place since May this year.
Till date, samples from 151,128 persons have been tested for influenza A (H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country and 35,298 of them have been found positive.
