Two die of swine flu in Hyderabad

Two persons died of swine flu at a government-run hospital here Wednesday, officials said.

According to the health department of the Telangana government, a 20-year-old woman from Jeedimetla in Hyderabad and a 42-year-old man from Medak district died while undergoing treatment at Gandhi Hospital here.

Doctors said they were undergoing treatment at other hospitals and came to Gandhi Hospital at a later stage.

Two more patients, with suspected swine flu symptoms, are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

An official said the four cases were reported in the last 15 days. There were no swine flu cases this year till July but during the last five months sporadic cases were reported.

With the two deaths, the toll from swine flu this year in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh put together has gone up to 12. The toll was eight last year.

Doctors attributed the increase in the number of cases during the last few weeks to the winter season. They have advised people to take all necessary precautions.