Rise in swine flu cases in Haryana, Punjab

With mercury falling sharply in many parts of Punjab and Haryana, there has been a sudden rise of swine flu cases in the region, health officials here said.

"Cold wave conditions currently prevailing in the region have made H1N1 virus more contagious, and people have become more prone to swine flu," Chandigarh's nodal officer for swine flu HC Gera said.

As many as 38 persons succumbed to the disease in various hospitals here this month, health officials said.

Yesterday, six persons died due to swine flu at various places across the region. While one was from Chandigarh, others were from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

Punjab's nodal officer for swine flu, Deepak Bhatia, also said there has been an increase in the number of swine flu cases this month because of the falling temperatures.

As many as 164 persons in the state were tested positive for H1N1 virus this month. In neighbouring Haryana, 1,250 people were tested swine flu positive so far, he said.

Chandigarh's health department had earlier declared the status of swine flu in the Union territory as "community spread", with the number of positive cases having crossed 300.

"However, there is no need to panic... The health department is geared up to meet the situation," Gera said.

With winter season at its peak, there has been a sharp fall in the mercury, with minimum temperatures in the region settling between one to four degrees Celsius at most places in Punjab and Haryana during the past several days.