Swine flu toll crosses 1,400-mark; Assam reports first fatality

The spectre of mounting swine flu losses continues in India as the toll crossed the 1,400- mark on Monday with 41 more deaths even as Assam registered its first casualty from the H1N1 virus, which has affected more than 25,000 people.

The Union Health Ministry said that, as on March 8, 1,401 persons had fallen prey to swine flu with the number of affected persons at 25,681.

According to the ministry’s data, the highest number of deaths due to swine flu -- 342 -- has been reported in west Indian state of Gujarat which has registered 5,623 cases of the disease.

North Indian state of Rajasthan is the second in terms of the casualties as it has seen 330 deaths with the number of cases reported in the desert state being 5,994.

The H1N1 virus claimed its first victim in east Indian state of Assam, where a 59-year-old man died on Sunday at the Jorhat Medical College Hospital, that has seen four others also testing positive for the disease, local health officials said. Altogether, there have been 10 cases of the H1N1 virus so far in Assam. The number of deaths in Maharashtra is 215 while that of those affected is 2,592 followed by Madhya Pradesh with 194 deaths and 1,505 reported cases of swine flu.