8 more swine flu death ,toll 359

• tanvi_singh
• October 7, 2009

Eight more people succumbed to the lethal swine flu virus Tuesday, taking the count of fatalities due to the influenza to 359 in the country.

From various parts of the country, 185 infections were also reported, taking the tally of total infections to 11,253.

Out of the latest eight deaths, four were reported from the state of Maharashtra, which has been the worst hit due to the virus. The death toll in Maharashtra alone has gone up to 147.

During the day, four deaths were reported to have occurred due to the influenza A. However, by the end of the day, health officials attributed four more deaths to the influenza.

“In addition, laboratory confirmation of one death from Andhra Pradesh, two from Maharashtra and one from Karnataka have also been received from the respective State Health departments, and are now reflected in the cumulative total,” a ministry official said of the four deaths that added to the swine flu death tally later in the day.

The latest infections
Maharashtra continued to top the charts in terms of infections as well. Out of the latest 185 new cases, 34 were reported from Maharashtra. The total number of persons infected by the swine flu in the state has shot up to 3,106.

Delhi reported 31 fresh cases on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu 25 and Kerala 22. Fifteen cases were reported from Andhra Pradesh, 7 from Haryana, 4 from Gujarat and 1 case from Jammu and Kashmir.

“Till date, samples from 47,145 people have been tested for influenza A (H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country and 11,253 of them have been found positive,” a statement issued by the ministry said.

Precautions in Delhi schools
Schools in the national capital are on high alert and are taking the necessary precautions to thwart the spread of the swine flu.

There is a difference in the approach though. About a couple of months back, a school was shut down if a few cases were reported from that particular school.

The scenario has changed now as Arun Kapoor, principal of Vasant Valley School in south Delhi, put it, “It’s just the hype that has died down, not the risk (from swine flu). We had not shut down our school when the hype was at its peak, and if there is any suspected case now as well, we don’t suspend classes.”
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• Last Modified: October 7, 2009
• Filed Under: Latest News, MARKETS, NATION, WORLD