Two more critical H1N1 case in Pune, cases exceed 129

Pune, Aug 7 (ANI): Two men in Pune are reported to be in critical condition after testing positive for H1N1 influenza and have been put on ventilator support.

Doctors attending the two patients said that both of them were critical.

One of the patients has been identified as a 36-year old Ayurveda doctor while other is a 36-year-old pharmacist.

Civic Medical Officer Dr RR Pardeshi said that the pharmacist was shifted from private Nobel Hospital to state-run Sassoon General Hospital on Thursday night and has been put on ventilator support.

"He was examined at Naidu Hospital on Wednesday and his throat swabs were taken for H1N1 testing. He was taken back to Nobel Hospital but after his blood samples tested positive for swine flu."

The total number of confirmed cases in Pune now stands at 129.

So far, over 3, 500 people have had themselves tested for swine flu.

The Maharashtra Government has invoked the Epidemic Act in Pune and Satara districts to check the spread of swine flu.

Pune Municipal Corporation officials have conducted a meeting of all the school authorities in the city and briefed them about precautionary measures to be taken to prevent the spread of the virus.

Earlier, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said the government is fully equipped to deal with the situation created by H1N1 influenza.

" There is no shortage of either testing materials or medicines for the treatment of swine flu, and both the Centre and all the State Governments are fully geared to meet the challenge," he added. (ANI)