Gujarat reports five more swine flu deaths; toll reaches 155

Swine flu claimed five more lives in Gujarat today, taking the toll to 155 since January, while 155 new cases were detected in the state, according to an official release issued by the state health department.
"Gujarat has reported five swine flu deaths, taking the total number of deaths to 155, while 155 new H1N1 (swine flu) cases were reported today," the release said.
A death each, was reported from Kutch, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar, Anand and Bharuch districts in the state today, the release said.
As per the release, as many as 722 people have been cured out of the total number of positive cases, whereas 1,059 patients are still under treatment in various hospitals.

Gujarat Health Minister Nitin Patel claimed here today that the state administration has taken proper steps and isolation wards dedicated to swine flu patients have already been set up in each and every district headquarters.
"The health department has taken all necessary steps. All facilities have been provided to tackle the swine flu situation. We have created isolation wards in all big medical colleges along with hospitals in each districts," Patel told reporters.
Gujarat Health Commissioner J P Gupta said that the administration has set up a new laboratory in Kutch to detect swine flu cases since that district is the worst affected.

The health department would also send proper stocks of medicines to any private hospitals, if they require it and that too absolutely free, Gupta said.