12 deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours with 600 fresh casesWith Maharashtra experiencing unseasonal rain and a sharp drop in temperatures, the swine flu toll in the State has soared to 152.
State Health authorities are struggling to cope with the rapid spread of the H1N1 virus , even as Health Minister Deepak Sawant cancelled the leave granted to doctors.
The number of those infected has touched 1,789 — 600 fresh cases in 72 hours and 12 deaths in 24 hours. Nagpur and the Vidarbha division continue to be the worst-affected, registering more than 45 deaths so far.
The toll in Pune has crossed 34, while 26 patients are said to be critical and on ventilator. Nashik district registered eight deaths, while Latur district in the Marathwada region of South Maharashtra recorded six so far.
Hospitals across the State witnessed chaos and confusion, particularly in Pune, over the format of prescriptions.
Doctors in certain private hospitals have been insisting that patients submit prescriptions as per the government specification classifying H1N1 symptoms, namely category ‘A’ (extremely critical), ‘B’ (for symptoms requiring administration of Tamiflu) and ‘C’ (which needs symptomatic treatment of seasonal influenza without Tamiflu dosage). This has often led to arguments between the kin of patients and harried doctors.
Anxious parents were seen struggling to convince doctors to examine their wards and administer them Tamiflu.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the State would pay for the treatment of H1N1 patients in private hospitals across the State.
Speaking to an English daily in Mumbai, Mr. Fadnavis said that hospitals could not refuse treatment to any person with swine flu symptoms.
(With additional reporting by Vinaya Deshpande)
600 fresh cases reported in the last
72 hours
