Two more suspected swine flu deaths in Delhi

The national capital has witnessed two more death due to suspected swine flu, which if confirmed will take the toll to six, health officials said here Friday.

The officials said 28 new cases were also reported from the city.

R.N. Das, a senior official from the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), said two women in their 50s died with the symptoms similar to those of swine flu.

"Two women in their 50s have recently died with the symptoms similar to that of swine flu. While the first woman from Chhattarpur was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital, the other woman was from Patel Nagar and was admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital," said Das.

"The deaths are being reviewed and can be called swine flu death only if confirmed," Das told IANS.

Following the rise in the number of swine flu cases in Delhi and media's coverage, the DHS has stopped its nodal officer Charan Singh from giving updates on new cases to avoid panic among the public.

Delhi has recorded 199 cases of swine flu till now this year.

The Delhi government has also appointed surveillance officers to check the treatment of swine flu at the designated hospitals in the national capital.

A total of 17 government hospitals, five private hospitals and eight laboratories have been designated by the health department to conduct the swine flu tests and treatment.