swine flu deaths in India, toll raises to 300

The global Swine Flu scene:-

According to the latest report of the World Health Organization (WHO), as many as 3,917 people have lost their lives globally due to the highly contagious Swine Flu.

The United States has been the worst hit, accounting for 2,948 deaths. The H1N1 has also sniffed life out of 362 people in the West Pacific region. Southeast Asia has reported 340 deaths, Europe 154 deaths, East Mediterranean 72 and Africa 41 deaths.

The WHO also disclosed that, globally, the total number of laboratory confirmed cases is over 318,925. The figure may, however, not represent the true picture as many countries have stopped testing and reporting mild individual cases of the flu.

In the wake of unrelenting spread of the influenza, the Saudi Arabian government has urged Swine Flu-affected countries, including India, to avoid Haj pilgrimage and help rein in the spread of the deadly disease.

“Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, recommends that elderly, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases and children should postpone the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages this year for their own safety,” the advisory from Saudi Arabia said.

India Sep 27:-

Nine Swine Flu deaths in the country Friday, including five from Maharashtra, took the toll due to influenza A (H1N1) in India to 286, health authorities said. Other than Maharashtra, two deaths were reported from Surat (Gujarat), one from Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu) and another from Mysore (Karnataka).

With the latest casualties, the toll in Maharashtra has jumped to 117, highest so far in the country. The Karnataka toll has risen to 86, Gujarat has 28 fatalities and Tamil Nadu has reported four deaths. At least 305 fresh cases were reported Friday that took the total number of people infected with the virus in the country to 9,284. Of the fresh cases, Delhi tops the chart with 154 cases followed by Maharashtra (39) and Andhra Pradesh (32).

Meanwhile, Goa's education department has directed a school in Panaji to close down for a week after two students tested positive for Swine Flu and three others were suspected of being infected with the virus. Speaking to IANS, Goa's Director of Education Celsa Pinto said that People's High School, located in the heart of the capital Panaji, has been shut. 'It is a precautionary measure. There is no need for panic. We have been asked by the directorate of health services to close the school for seven days. Both the infected students are from Class 5,' she said.

In Himachal Pradesh, Swine Flu has taken its toll on India's 'toughest' mountain terrain biking event, Hercules MTB Himachal, as a majority of foreign participants cancelled their entries for the expedition. 'Almost 50 percent of the participants from European countries have cancelled their entries. Most of them cited Swine Flu as the only reason for not participating in the expedition this time,' Mohit Sood, president of the Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA), told IANS. Though the national capital continues to report a huge number of cases (2,336 so far), state Health Minister Kiran Walia said: 'The situation is under control and the government is doing its best to provide treatment to H1N1 patients. I advise people to visit the doctor at the earliest if there is any symptoms of Swine Flu.'