Flu toll reaches 24; PM assures all possible govt assistance

New Delhi, Aug 15 (PTI) Swine flu toll across India
Saturday rose to 24 with a man succumbing to the deadly virus
in southern state, Karnataka even as Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh promised all possible steps to control the spread of the
disease.

28-year-old Manjunath became the third victim of the
disease in Karnataka. He died Friday evening at a private
hospital.

An official report from Aurangabad said three persons,
suspected to be suffering from swine flu, died in Marathwada
region of western state of Maharashtra. However, it was yet to
be confirmed whether the casualties were because of H1N1 virus
or some other disease.

Maintaining that three patients had died in western city
Pune because of viral pneumonia and not swine flu, a senior
official said the toll due to H1N1 virus in the city stood at
12.

With Pune being the worst hit, over 60 screening centres
are functioning in the city, he said adding such centres would
be opened at 24 rural hospitals and 96 PHCs.

So far, 117 cases of swine flu have been reported from
across the country taking the total number of those afflicted
by the viral disease to 1,390.

Addressing the nation on the occasion of Independence
Day, the Prime Minister said, "the Central Government and the
State Governments will together continue to make all necessary
efforts to control the spread of this infection" and asked
people not to spread panic.

"I also want to assure you that the situation does not
warrant a disruption in our daily lives because of fear and
anxiety," he said. PTI