268 swine flu deaths in Maha this year so far

Mumbai, October 26

Maharashtra continues to record the largest number of swine flu deaths in the country for the second consecutive year despite the state Health Department setting up a protocol for both private and public health practitioners.

According to information put out by the Health Department, 268 persons have died in Maharashtra due to H1N1 or swine flu between January and October this year. During the same period, 542 persons died of swine flu across the country. Health Minister Deepak Sawant told reporters earlier this week that 32 persons were currently on ventilator support.

On Thursday, the department advised doctors not to wait for patients to test positive for swine flu before being put on oseltamivir—the drug used to treat virus. Patients considered high-risk include those suffering from heart, kidney, lung, liver diseases, diabetes, cancer and AIDS.

Health officials said the number of swine flu deaths was 532 in Maharashtra in 2017.  — TNS