197 fresh cases of swine flu reported

Four more people succumbed to swine flu today as 197 fresh cases of the disease were reported from across the country.

Maharashtra reported the maximum 61 cases followed by Delhi 56, Karnataka 24, Kerala 22, Haryana 10 and Gujarat 7 among others.

Of the four deaths, three were reported from Maharashtra and one from Gujarat. Though two other deaths have been reported from Maharashtra, their lab confirmation has not been received, officials said. Only one out of the 197 new cases was imported, the rest are all indigenous. With today’s cases, the total number of people afflicted by the disease has reached 10,730.

Of the three deaths in Maharashtra, two were reported from Pune which is the worst affected city.

The latest casualties were identified as Kasarbai Londhe (48) and Vikas Pramanik (27), Ashok Mehta, Joint Director, State Health Department, said.

Ten fresh cases of the deadly virus have also been reported from the city and hospital authorities put the number of patients in a critical stage at seven. Meanwhile, swine flu deaths were reported in West Asia with three Saudi nationals and a foreigner, who was not identified, becoming the latest victims who died on Thursday.