Swine Flu

New Delhi: Six swine flu deaths, including four in Andhra Pradesh, were reported on Friday, taking the toll in India to 380 so far, health authorities said here. Also, 149 new cases were reported in the country, taking the total infections from the influenza A (H1N1) virus to 11,656. With the four deaths in Andhra Pradesh, the toll in the state has gone up to 42. Two deaths were also reported in Karnataka. With this, the southern state has recorded 108 deaths.

While a 40-year-old man died at a government hospital in Bangalore on Oct 5, the second victim was a 25-year-old woman who died at a private hospital in Gadag on Oct 6.

Reports confirming that both the victims had tested positive for the virus were received only on Oct 8, a health official said.

"According to our clinical audit, the delay in treatment is one of the main causes of the large number of swine flu deaths in the state," principal secretary for health I.R. Perumal told media.

Of Karnataka's 108 swine flu deaths, 72 have been in Bangalore.

"Till date, samples from 49,144 persons have been tested for influenza A (H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country and 11,656 of them have been found positive," a statement issued here said.

Of the 149 new cases, 47 are from Maharashtra, which has recorded the maximum number of deaths and flu infections in the country. The total number of infections now stands at 3,234 in the state.

The others states where new cases were reported today were Delhi (42), Karnataka (24), Kerala (10), Haryana (10), Tamil Nadu (7), Gujarat (4) and Punjab (2). (IANS)