Swine flu, more than 900 deaths in India since the beginning of the year
New Delhi (AsiaNews / Agencies) - 926 have died in India from swine flu in just 11 weeks. Across the country 16,235 cases of infection have been recorded. For experts it is the worst outbreak of the H1N1 virus since 2010.
The State with the largest number of victims is Rajasthan, where out of 4,884 cases 234 people have died. Next is Gujarat, where 231 people have died and 3,527 are infected. In Ahmedabad, the state capital, the authorities banned public gatherings with more than five people, in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. Weddings and funerals are exempted from the measure, but participants must wear protective masks.
Normally the law is used to maintain public order; the administration has promised that it will be "flexible" in interpreting and applying the prohibition.
Other Indian states affected by swine flu are Maharahstra, Telangana, Karnataka, Punjab and Delhi.
In Maharashtra there were 112 victims out of a total of 1,221 cases of infection. Telangana, Karnataka and Punjab have had - respectively - 54, 39 and 38 deaths. In federated Territory of Delhi only eight people have died, but the number of infected is 2,456.
Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by the H1N1 virus (a strain of type A influenza), which appeared for the first time in Mexico in 2009. The virus originated in pigs but transmuted becoming a human disease that is spread through coughing and sneezing. The symptoms are similar to those of a typical seasonal flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and chills. The categories most at risk are pregnant women, children under five years of age, people over 65 and people with serious medical conditions.
The Federal Minister of Health J.P. Nadda, has urged people to "not to panic", explaining that the country has enough medicine to treat the sick and to address any new infections. The ministry has instructed states to set up isolation wards and provide free testing in some government hospitals.
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