Summer Rain Spikes Swine Flu Death Toll to 400 in Maharashtra

Another bout of summer rain in less than a month has raised swine flu death toll to 400 in Maharashtra and the infection is showing no signs of abating. According to the state health officials, an average of five people are succumbing to the H1N1 virus every day. The number of recorded cases has exceeded a staggering 4,480 this year.

Around 300 patients are currently undergoing treatment at various hospitals across the State. Among them, at least 40 are deemed critical and have been put on ventilator support.

Authorities also reveal that more than 50 patients have died since the past week. The swine flu death toll in three months is the highest recorded so far in State in the last five years.

Scientists at the National Institute of Virology say that the H1N1 virus has become the predominant strain with other influenza viruses like H3N2 and Type B in scant evidence.



Source-Medindia