Swine flu death toll reaches 7

Pune, Aug 10 (ANI): A 35-year-old chemist Sanjay Tilekar died of swine flu on Monday at the Sasoon Hospital in Pune, registering the seventh death by H1N1 virus in the country.

Earlier in the day, a 35-year-old ayurvedic doctor and a four-year-old boy died of swine flu in Pune and Chennai.

Taking preventive measures to tackle the deadly virus, Government of Maharashtra on Monday ordered the closure of all educational institutions for the next one week in Pune and also in the industrial townships on the outskirts of the city, where swine flu has claimed five lives so far.

This was stated by Ajit Pawar, District Guardian Minister overseeing Pune region at a press conference here on Monday.

"From today till August 17, all colleges, high schools, primary schools should be closed, all private classes should be stopped in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. All children are advised to stay indoors," said Pawar.

Besides schools and colleges, the Government has also ordered the closure of all the theatres for the next three days. He also informed that three swine flu patients in Pune were critical.

"Out of the four positive cases (in Sassoon Hospital) three are critical. We have been giving them appropriate treatment," Pawar added. (ANI)