Swine flu toll reaches 64 in Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh: The death toll due to swine flu in Punjab and Haryana has reached 64, officials said here on Monday.

While the H1N1 virus had claimed 42 lives in Punjab, 22 casualties have taken place due to the disease in Haryana, the officials said.

The number of swine flu patients in Punjab is 181 as against 182 in neighbouring Haryana, they said.

"As many as seven patients suffering from swine flu are on ventilator in Haryana," officials said.

With a view to check the spread of swine flu, the Haryana and Punjab Health Department have established isolation wards besides making availability of adequate stock of Tamiflu.

Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Ram Niwas said that during the past few days the weather has changed and intensity of cold has increased due to rains therefore cases of swine flu are expected to rise.

He urged everybody to take special care in such weather.

He said that all civil surgeons have been given directions to immediately track the suspected cases and provide the patients with Tamiflu.