Uttar Pradesh: 9 new cases of swine flu reported in Lucknow; toll reaches 78

Lucknow, Feb 16: Nine more persons were tested positive for swine flu here, taking the total figure of those infected by the disease to 78 in the state capital, a senior health official said today.

Nine new patients have been tested positive for H1N1 virus and are admitted in different hospitals in the state capital since yesterday, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), SNS Yadav said.

"With this, a total of 78 swine flu patients have been found in Lucknow so far. They are being treated in different hospitals of the city," he said.

Three persons, including Merchant Navy officer, have died due to the disease here. A retired Army officer died of H1N1 virus on January 9, while the wife of a retired jawan died on January 13 here.

With sharp rise in cases of swine flu in the state capital, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had yesterday warned doctors and health department staff that any negligence on their part in handling the cases would not be tolerated.

The state government has also decided to provide free and prompt treatment to such patients in SGPGI, KGMU and other medical colleges of the state. The CM has also directed that availability of medicines should be ensured in government hospitals.

"Teams of doctors should be sent to places where cases of swine flu have been detected," Yadav had said.

PTI