Rajasthan reels under swine flu, toll climbs to 73

Jaipur: Five more deaths due to swine flu were reported in Rajasthan on Thursday, taking the toll since the beginning of the year to 73, officials said.

“The deaths were reported from Jaipur, Dausa and Jodhpur. Besides, 19 more people tested positive Thursday for swine flu,” a health department official said.

The disease has created panic in the state, and over 270 people Thursday reached the state’s largest government-run SMS Hospital in Jaipur for swine flu tests.

An official said that till Wednesday, 437 people tested positive for the H1N1 virus, with the maximum of 152 from Jaipur.

There were also reports of shortage of tablets used for treating H1N1 virus from many areas.

Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who himself is recuperating after being detected with swine flu, flayed the Vasundhara Raje government for delay in arranging 10 lakh Tamiflu tablets used for treating the flu.

IANS