A/H1N1 Flu Spreads Quickly in India

Inndia is virtually in the grip of A/H1N1 flu with the virus gradually spreading across the country and claiming its eighth victim Tuesday, a 13-year-old girl from the western city of Pune.

More than 1,000 cases of the new flu strain have been reported across India.

Pune, which accounts for five of the eight deaths nationwide, has recorded the highest number of cases, followed by the national capital where some 228 cases have been confirmed so far. It is also the worst affected place where a number of schools have been shut temporarily over fears of children contracting the disease.

All these indicate that the country is in panic, despite government's repeated assurance that it has enough stocks of the anti-flu drug, Tamiflu, and adequate flu testing centers, say experts, Xinhua reports.

More supplies of flu drug Tamiflu and testing kits are being imported and private hospitals are being asked to help state-run hospitals cope with a surge in people rushing to get tested, Reuters India reports.

Meanwhile, India on Tuesday reported 119 new cases of swine flu.

Among the new cases, Pune reported 62, Mumbai 24, Delhi 15, Manipal 2, Ahmedabad 1, Bangalore 4, Nagpur 3, Osmanabad 1, Nashik 1, Goa 1, Hyderabad 2, Thiruvananthapuram 2 and Jammu 1, Hindu reports.