Swine flu death toll reaches 89

Mumbai, Aug. 28 (ANI): With the death of a 39-year-old man in Mumbai, the nationwide swine flu toll has mounted to 89.

M Shaikh, who had tested positive for the virus, had undergone treatment at MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai for ten days and was shifted to D Y Patil Hospital. He died on Friday night, Navi Mumbai Chief Health Officer Deepak Paropkari said.

Meanwhile, 123 fresh cases of infection have been surfaced across the country, bringing the total number of those who had been infected to 3,396.

Maharashtra now accounts for 47 fatalities - 25 in Pune, ten in Mumbai, seven in Nashik, two in Aurangabad and one each in Dhule and Latur.

The deadly virus has taken 20 lives in Karnataka, seven in Gujarat, three each in Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Delhi, two in Uttarakhand and one each in Kerala, Goa, Rajasthan and Haryana.

According to the Health Ministry, the virus is affecting people in the 14 to 44 age bracket more, and late reporting for treatment was the reason for most of the deaths.

Director General of Health Services R K Srivastava, quoting a survey by the ministry, said on Thursday that instances of death occurred when people infected by the virus reported for proper treatment five days or more after the symptoms surfaced. (ANI)