19 new swine flu cases in India, total 616

The capital reported 11 cases of swine flu and Pune eight taking the total number of infected people in the country to 616 on Thursday amid panic in the two cities for the second consecutive day with hundreds flocking testing centres for screening.

The capital reported 11 cases of swine flu and Pune eight taking the total number of infected people in the country to 616 on Thursday amid panic in the two cities for the second consecutive day with hundreds flocking testing centres for screening.

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Nineteen laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported on Thursday: Delhi (11) and Pune (8), the health ministry said in a statement.

Of the 616 positive cases, 487 have been discharged so far. One patient - Reeda Shaikh, a 14-year-old girl from Pune - died on Monday. The rest remain admitted to the identified health facilities, the ministry said.

Out of the 11 cases in Delhi, 10 are contact cases of previously reported positive cases. They have no travel history. The 11th case is a 25-year-old man who arrived in New Delhi from Chicago on July 28. He reported with symptoms on Wednesday and was found positive with the influenza A(H1N1) virus.

Out of the eight new cases in Pune, seven are indigenous and the eighth case is a 45-year-old woman who travelled from Frankfurt via Mumbai.

"There is fear and people will come to the hospital. But it is the duty of doctors in public service to give their best for the betterment of the country. My doctors are fully committed to screen and counsel whoever comes in," SK Sharma, medical officer of RML, told IANS.

"There was no chaos or mismanagement. Our screening centres are open round the clock to help anyone," Sharma added after taking care of over 260 visitors in his hospital.