New Delhi: Swine flu toll across the country
on Saturday rose to 24 with a man succumbing to the deadly virus in
Karnataka even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised all
possible steps to control the spread of the disease.
Twenty-eight-year-old Manjunath became the third victim of the
disease in Karnataka. He died yesterday evening at a private
hospital.
An official report from Aurangabad said three persons,
suspected to be suffering from swine flu, died in Marathwada
region of Maharashtra. However, it was yet to be confirmed
whether the casualties were because of H1N1 virus or some
other disease.
Maintaining that three patients had died in Pune because
of viral pneumonia and not swine flu, a senior official said
the toll due to H1N1 virus in the city stood at 12.
With Pune being the worst hit, over 60 screening centres
are functioning in the city, he said adding such centres would
be opened at 24 rural hospitals and 96 PHCs.
So far, 117 cases of swine flu have been reported from
across the country taking the total number of those afflicted
by the viral disease to 1,390.
Addressing the nation on the occasion of Independence
Day, the Prime Minister said, "The Central government and the
state governments will together continue to make all necessary
efforts to control the spread of this infection" and asked
people not to spread panic.
"I also want to assure you that the situation does not
warrant a disruption in our daily lives because of fear and
anxiety," he said.
Bureau Report
