Pune swine flu toll climbs to 97

The swine flu toll in the city rose to 97 with the death of a 29-year-old youth, health officials said today.

The victim, who succumbed to the virus on Sunday, was a resident of Wagholi, 20 km from here, and had been taken to various hospitals before being admitted to government-run Sassoon hospital on October 30 after testing positive for H1N1 virus, they said.

The state health machinery has stepped up an awareness drive, stressing importance of early detection of swine flu symptoms, with growing concern over a speculated "second wave" of the pandemic with the onset of the winter.

Meanwhile, citrus fruit prices have risen by about 20 per cent here due to their growing demand for their resistance enhancing properties.

In another development, the prestigious annual music festival 'Savai Gandharva' held every winter and postponed due to swine flu threat, has now been rescheduled by the organisers 'Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal' for January 7-10, a spokesman of the Mandal said.

The festival started in 1954, attracts a large number of vocalists and musicians from all over the country.

Most of city schools have also opted against holding annual gatherings to avoid assemblies.