The city reported four new cases of swine flu on Friday, taking the total number of patients affected this year to 64. According to official data, there were 39 reported cases and one death in January alone from the swine flu (H1N1) virus, and 25 reported cases and two deaths in February as of Friday, which is a two-year high. The infection is attributed to changing weather.

Hospitals claim to have seen more swine flu cases than what are being officially reported. Five patients are being treated at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML) alone. Sources claim there were five swine flu deaths in the hospital since the start of the year but not all cases were from the city. They also say the virus strain is mild.

“The numbers are higher but not everyone needs hospitalisation. Therefore, the cases might go unreported. Of late, there has been a sudden spurt in the number of cases,” said a doctor at RML, requesting anonymity.