New Delhi, July 19 (IANS)
The monsoon, a much-awaited phenomenon in India, has this year brought with it a return of the swine flu virus. With 332 cases reported from all over the country since July 12, swine flu has spread to almost every part of the country.
Kerala has the highest number of 121 reported cases, closely followed by Maharashtra with 102 cases so far.
A total of 21 deaths have been reported from the affected states.
The death toll is highest in Maharashtra with 11 deaths reported. Kerala reported 8 deaths, while Delhi and Gujarat, which saw rapid spread of the virus in the last two weeks, have reported one each.
In the northern plains, which was saved from the virus due to the dry weather, the monsoon has brought with it the threat of rapid spread of H1N1. Delhi has reported 14 cases, Haryana one, and Uttar Pradesh two cases so far.
However, according to experts, the virus may not create as much havoc this year as people have developed some immunity to it.
‘The problem will be severe only if the virus mutates again,’ a health ministry official said.
‘With two indigenous vaccines, we are now prepared to face the threat,’ he added.
Since its outbreak in May last year, swine flu has so far claimed 1,646 lives in India so far.
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