Four more die of swine flu in Rajasthan, toll now 206

The toll due to swine flu in Rajasthan Friday reached 206, as four more deaths due to the disease were reported in the desert state, officials said.

"Four deaths and 288 positive cases were reported today (Friday)," B.R. Meena, director for public health, told IANS.

Meena said that with the increase in temperature, the swine flu cases are expected to come down.

The total positive cases since Jan 1 touched 4,185 Friday.

The highest number of deaths at 34 was reported from Jaipur, followed by Ajmer at 27.

Medical and Health Minister Rajendra Singh Rathore Friday monitored the situation across the state by holding a video conference with heads of government hospitals.

Rathore directed hospital authorities to take help of specialist doctors to control the highly contagious flu.

The minister asked them to have specialised sections for patients with swine flu symptoms.

He also asked health department officials to ask people deputed for polio oral vaccination drive Feb 22 to conduct a door-to-door survey on swine flu.

The Congress, meanwhile, continued to criticise the Vasundhara Raje government over its "failure" to control the disease.

"The government has done too little and that too late to control the spread of the disease. They should have launched awareness drive in a big way much earlier," said said state Congress spokesperson Pratap Singh Khachariyawas.