Swine flu assumes serious proportions in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal: Swine flu has claimed 111 lives in just over three month period in Madhya Pradesh, signalling that the H1NI influenza has become a serious health issue in the state.

"One hundred and eleven people have died due to swine flu in 94 days and 647 have tested positive for the H1N1 virus between July 1 and October 2 in Madhya Pradesh," state health director K L Sahu said on Tuesday.

He said swine flu prevalence has been found in 44, out of total 51 districts of Madhya Pradesh.

Forty-four patients died of the HINI virus infection from July 1 to September 7 (69 days), while 57 persons succumbed to the influenza from September 8 to October 2, according to the official figures of MP health department.

The figures suggest that more than two persons died of swine flu daily in last 23 days, signalling that the disease spread was serious.

Sahu said 647 patients had tested positive for the H1N1 virus in Madhya Pradesh since July 1. Sahu, however, said the state government is making all out efforts to check the disease.

According to the information gathered from chief health and medical officers of different districts (CMHOs), swine flu spread was more serious in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Damoh, Sehore and Sagar districts.