Pune: At least 13 deaths have been reported due to swine flu (H1N1) virus since the beginning of the year in western Maharashtra, according to medical authorities.
Health officials said Pune recorded six deaths since January this year, Solapur recorded three, Aurangabad two and Nashik and Kolhapur one each.
More than 50 cases have been recorded across the region, including the northern part of the State and Marathwada. More than half cases are said to be from Pune.
At least six patients detected are in a ‘critical’ condition and have been put on ventilator at different city hospitals.
In Kolhapur district, the administration has set up emergency cells at primary health centres (PHCs) after a 45-year-old patient in Karvir tehsil succumbed to the virus.
In 2016, the State had recorded 82 cases and 25 deaths due to the virus.
Dr. Kanchan Jagtap, Joint Director, State Health Department, said, “Among [the cases recorded last year], 41 cases and nine deaths were recorded between January and February. Despite a slight increase in the H1N1 toll this year in the same time period, this is the normal seasonal transmission pattern of the virus. Although people need to take precautionary measures.”
Scientists from the city-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) said there has been no change in the genetic make-up of the virus.
