10 fresh cases of swine flu in Kashmir; total 277

Srinagar, Mar 4: Ten more patients have tested positive for swine flu in Kashmir, taking the total number of those infected with the virus to 277, even as no fresh deaths have been reported due to the disease, health officials said here today.

"Ten more patients have tested positive for the virus. The total number of infected people is now at 277," PRO, SKIMS, Kulsoom Bhat said.

She said the death toll due to the disease in the Valley stood at 7 as no fresh deaths had been reported in the last 24 hours. "There has been no H1N1-related death during the last 24 hours in the Valley," she said.

Bhat said 20 fresh samples were taken today for testing. "101 patients were seen at the special OPD of the SKIMS hospital today out of which samples of 13 were taken for testing.

Seven samples have been received from SMHS Hospital," she said. The official said 35 more samples were in the backlog due to the shifting of the testing laboratory and their reports were expected soon.

She said the number of swine flu patients admitted at the isolation ward of the hospital was nine, including two patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

PTI