Maharashtra worst affected by swine flu with 330 deaths

Mumbai: Swine flu, a vector-borne disease, has so far claimed 330 lives in Maharashtra, making it the worst of swine flu-hit states in the country. Across India, the H1N1 virus has claimed nearly 600 lives, with states such as Gujarat (75 swine flu deaths), Kerala (63) and Rajasthan (59) following in Maharashtra’s footsteps.

According to state health officials, doctors attributed the rise in number of swine flu cases to patients coming in late for treatment. According to a report filed by state surveillance, Maharashtra was the worst afflicted with 330 swine flu deaths out of which, 35 deaths occurred in Nashik followed by Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Mumbai. Health officials suspected that H1N1 virus which causes swine flu might have mutated.

A senior health official said, “The disease initially spread through pigs but now, it is being transmitted from human being to human being due to which numbers are increasing drastically.”

This time, cases have been reported even in May i.e. summer. “Due to climatic change, we have been seeing a significant number of H1N1 cases since June, a month which is otherwise not conducive for viral growth or transmission,” the official added. Medics blamed the spurt in swine flu on patients not consulting doctors immediately.