Mumbai, August 24: Swine flu is spreading to interior parts of Maharashtra as the pandemic toll reached 40 following one more death in the state today, the government said.
“Altogether, 22 districts have been affected by H1N1 infection so far in the state. Swine flu is now spreading to interior parts of the state as well, though initially the patients were from urban areas,” additional chief secretary, health, Sharwaree Gokhale told reporters here.
Asked if strict measures (closing schools, banning mass gathering at festivals) would be taken by the government to stop further spreading of the killer virus, she replied in the negative. “There is no indication world wide that any strict action has helped to stop its spreading. So, it was consciously decided not to take any (such) action,” she said.
Death toll climbed to 40 in the state including 23 from Pune, eight in Mumbai, five in Nashik, two in Aurangabad and one patient each from Dhule and Latur.
On a query about stock of Tamiflu tablets, Gokhale said the state has sufficient stock of the tablet supplied by the Centre.
—Agencies