Five districts of Maharashtra — Mumbai, Pune (including Pimpri Chinchwad), Nagpur, Aurangabad and Latur — have seen 90 per cent swine flu cases in the State, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here on Monday. He said the State government will reimburse the medical expenses for swine flu patients not just in government hospitals, but in private hospitals across the State too.
The swine flu death toll in Maharashtra has increased to 112. Last week, with 34 persons succumbed to it. The total number of cases has gone up to over 1,200 since January.
"The next fortnight is very crucial for us. The spread of the disease is generally controlled after temperature rise. But due to unseasonal rains, the temperatures have gone down, thus increasing the threat of the spread of the disease," Mr. Fadnavis told reporters here.
He said that the State government was trying to put special focus on the five places namely Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Latur, to curb the spread of swine flu.
"We have realised that most of the patients of swine flu have been residents of these cities, or have recently travelled here. Latur has been badly affected as the spread of swine flu has only been increasing there. In all other places, the cases are coming down," he said.
He assured that Maharashtra has ample supply of Tamiflu tablets. In a video conference with all the district Collectors and the Divisional Commissioners on Monday morning, the Chief Minister has given instructions that each district should seek adequate stock of the medicine from the State health department. "All the hospitals in the State, including the government and private hospitals, have been instructed to immediately start the treatment of swine flue patients. The State will make reimbursements to the hospitals," he said.
