Maharashtra continues to be in the grip of the lethal H1N1 virus which has already claimed the lives of 15 people in the first week of February itself, taking the toll in the State to 38.
The number of fresh swine flu cases has shot up to 119 in a span of eight days beginning February even as alarmed State health officials desperately attempt to contain the spread of the virus. This is a dramatic rise from the total 74 cases reported across Maharashtra in January.
While Pune district has recorded five deaths, Mumbai has recorded four and Nagpur three, with three other deaths occurring in Latur and Aurangabad districts in the Marathwada region. Four of these deaths took place on Sunday itself, said medical sources.
The State health department has accordingly revived the action plan that was used to combat the 2009 H1N1 pandemic to rein in the current spread of the infection. This involves renewing demarcation of isolation wards at designated State-run hospitals to repair of medical equipment.
Since January, Pune district has recorded 13 deaths while Nagpur continues to be the worst-affected district in the State, recording 14 deaths and 85 H1N1 cases.
