Swine flu claims 3 more lives; toll mounts to 18 in Raj

 Three persons including a woman today succumbed to swine flu here, taking the toll of the disease-related deaths to 18 in the New Year, an official of the state medical and health department said.

35-year-old Laxmi Sharma of Bundi district died at a private hospital here while 42-year-old Vishwanath Ajmera of the city's Jhotwara area died at SMS hospital, the official told PTI.

Ramsharan (36) of Vanasthali succumbed to the H1N1 virus at another private hospital, he said.

Yesterday, 30-year-old Rambabu of Jaisinghpura-khor village near here died at a private hospital while 52-year-old Kailash Khandelwal from Dausa died at the SMS hospital, the official said.

Of the 18 deaths so far, Jaipur has recorded eight, Banswara and Barmer two each while Tonk, Nagaur, Bikaner, Bundi, Vanasthali, and Kota have recorded one death each, he said, adding that ten women and eight men have succumbed to swine flu.

Of the 262 samples sent for test since January in the state, 62 were found H1N1 positive. Fifteen out of 33 districts were showing scattered presence of H1N1, he said.

Meanwhile, state medical and health minister R S Rathore held a high level meeting of medical officers here yesterday.

He directed them to take long-term measures to contain the spread of the dreaded disease and provide immediate testing and treatment facilities to patients.

"All government hospitals should undertake strict vigilance and preventive measures for H1N1 disease. They should also launch awareness programmes in the state," Rathore said.