13 more swine flu deaths in India, toll goes up to 621

As many as 13 more epeople have died of influenza A (H1N1) in India, taking the toll due to the swine flu pandemic in the country so far to 621, an official statement said here today.

Eight of these deaths were reported during the day -- four in Rajasthan and two each in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Besides, five deaths that occurred in recent days -- two each in Rajasthan and Maharashtra and one in Chhattisgarh -- were reported by the State authorities to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today.

Of the total H1N1 deaths in the country so far, Maharashtra now accounts for 232, while 123 lives have been lost in Karnataka, 67 in Rajasthan, 50 in Andhra Pradesh, 49 in Gujarat, 26 in Kerala, 25 in Delhi, 9 in Haryana, 7 in Tamil Nadu, 6 each in Uttarakhand and Puducherry , 5 each in Goa and Punjab, 3 each in Uttar Pradesh and Orissa, 2 in Chhattisgarh and 1 each in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram.

Meanwhile, 144 fresh cases of swine flu were reported from different parts of India today, including 91 in Delhi, 20 in Rajasthan, 14 in Haryana, 6 each in Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, 3 in Uttarakhand, 2 in Gujarat, and 1 each in Puducherry and Chhattisgarh.

With these, the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus reported in the country so far has gone up to 19,632, the statement added.

NNN