TNI Bureau: With the change of weather, Swine flu is spreading out across the country claiming 3 lives in the national capital and one in Gurgaon this week. The number of cases during this period is higher than last year. The Health department showed its preparedness to battle against the dangerous H1N1 influenza.

The flu also killed 20 in Punjab, 1 in Haryana and one death reported from Chandigarh this year. Uttar Pradesh confirmed 24 cases and the government recorded 60 cases in Delhi and NCR so far. The number may increase as the virus is most active during the change of weather. Last year, only four cases were reported during the same period and one death was reported in the entire year.

People need to take adequate precautions as the virus is spreading across the country, mostly in Delhi, NCR, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The Delhi government has identified 17 state-run hospitals and five private hospitals for treatment. The hospital authorities have been instructed to give immediate attention to the patients suffering from swine flu.

Sample testing will be done at eight labs in Delhi including at AIIMS, Patel Chest and National Institute of Communicable Diseases. The state health minister Dr A.K. Walia instructed the department officials to check the situation time to time.

In Punjab, the situation remained panic as the supply of H1N1 vaccination is limited. The supply was stopped last year after Swine Flu was declared a non-pandemic disease.