2 more die of swine flu, India toll 264

Two more people died of swine flu, taking India's death toll from the contagious virus to 264, the health ministry said.

Two more people died of swine flu on Wednesday, taking India's death toll from the contagious virus to 264, the health ministry said.

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While one person died in Ahmednagar in Maharashtra, the other died in Hyderabad. With these fresh deaths, Maharashtra has so far reported 108 deaths, the highest in the country. The Hyderabad casualty took the tally in Andhra Pradesh to 23.

Besides, 219 new swine flu cases were reported in the country, taking the number of people affected so far to 8,696.

Of the fresh cases, Delhi reported the maximum with 80 infections, followed by 45 in Maharashtra and 26 in Haryana. So far, Maharashtra has reported 2,539 cases, followed by Delhi where 2,079 people have been infected till now.

In spite of a surge in flu cases in the national capital, Delhi health officials on Wednesday said people were staying away from taking immediate medical help even after showing symptoms of the disease.

"Despite all our efforts to make people aware that they should immediately approach the nearest hospital if they show swine flu-like symptoms, the majority are not following it. Delayed medical consultation by people is one of the reasons for increasing swine flu numbers in the capital," Anjan Prakash, state nodal officer for swine flu, told IANS.

"A school student reached Safdarjung Hospital after seven days of fever, cough and cold. We can't do much but request people to visit doctors immediately if they are unwell and follow the necessary precautions," added Prakash.