Swine flu cases rise up to 39 in West Bengal

Seven more people tested positive in this eastern metropolis Sunday, raising the confirmed swine flu cases to 39 in West Bengal, a health department official said.

Seven more people tested positive in this eastern metropolis on Sunday, raising the confirmed swine flu cases to 39 in West Bengal, a health department official said.

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The condition of Akash Chowdhury, admitted in the intensive care unit of the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, continues to be serious.

"His condition was as it was yesterday. There has been no deterioration. He continues to be serious," state's nodal officer for swine flu Tapas Sen told IANS.

Chowdhury was hospitalised a few days back with fever and breathing problems, and his test results received Saturday showed he has swine flu.

With the two designated swine flu hospitals in the city almost packed to capacity, the government was planning to open isolation wards for the treatment of the viral infection at one more hospital in the satellite township of Salt Lake.

However, there has been no report of any fatality in the state so far.

A high-level meeting chaired by state Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty has also been scheduled Aug 18 to assess the swine flu situation.

Meanwhile, the state's school education department had already issued advisories to the district school authorities about the essential measures required to be taken to combat the infection among children.