GNS/Pune: The state’s swine flu death toll swelled by another 16 casualties over the last week, taking the collective death tally to 151 in Maharashtra. As many as 1,507 people have tested positive for the contagion in the state so far this year.
“The virus’ active transmission is not limited to the cities anymore. Even the rural parts of the state have started reporting positive cases. Satara, Solapur, Dhule, Jalgaon, Latur and Buldhana have had swine flu cases and casualties,” a health official from the epidemic cell said.
In the city areas, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Mumbai and Kolhapur have collectively recorded a total of 122 H1N1 casualties. The municipal corporation of Ahmednagar has recorded seven deaths followed by the municipal corporations of Thane (3), Kalyan (2), Pimpri Chinchwad (2) and Aurangabad (2).
Experts attributed the initial trigger that spurred the virus transmission to the cold wave conditions which prevailed in most of the country, including Maharashtra, during the winter.
“Moreover, the depleting immunity among masses and co-circulation of other seasonal viruses along with swine flu, are among the contributing factors. These days wide fluctuation in day and night temperature is providing a fitting atmosphere for the virus to spread,” an office-bearer of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said.
Related Posts
