42% swine flu deaths in India are from Rajasthan: Report

JAIPUR: Rajasthan is leading in swine flu deaths across the country. The state is one of the worst-affected states due to swine flu as 42% deaths reported in the country happened in the state.
According to Centre’s report, till January 27, there are 4,571 cases and 169 deaths reported across the country. During the same period, Rajasthan reported 1,856 cases and 72 deaths.Forty percent persons tested positive for swine flu in the country belonged to the state.
The report further pointed out that Delhi had reported 479 cases but no death was reported till January 27. In Maharashtra, 12 persons had died of swine flu, while 72 were tested positive for the disease. Punjab, following Rajasthan, is at the second spot in the list of states having highest swine flu deaths. Twenty-six persons died of the disease while 164 persons were tested positive for swine flu.
Even though the state has reported highest number of deaths, the just above national average mortality rate is the only saving grace for the state. India’s swine flu mortality rate is just above three per cent. In the state, the mortality rate is just above four per cent.
The states such as Madhya Pradesh (20%), Himachal Pradesh (20%) and Punjab (16%) have the highest mortality rate among states which have witnessed sudden spurt in swine flu cases. For preventing mortalities due to swine flu, health department claimed that early diagnosis and timely treatment is the key to prevent mortality due to swine flu. In Jaipur, 912 persons have already been tested positive for swine flu and only four persons have died in the capital city. The mortality rate in Jaipur is even less than one percent.
Amid scare of swine flu, health minister Raghu Sharma along with higher health department authorities are inspecting health centres across the state for ensuring that doctors are coming on duty on time. On the other hand, two epidemiologists from the Centre were in Jodhpur where 24 persons have died of swine flu in 31 days to ascertain the reason for outbreak of swine flu which has made Rajasthan so vulnerable to the disease.