Karnataka reports three more swine flu deaths

Bangalore: Three more swine flu deaths were reported from Karnataka, taking the toll due to the H1N1 virus to 31 in the state, health officials said on Thursday.

Test reports of three more dead people in the state have confirmed that they were suffering from swine flu, a health official said here.

The death toll due to H1N1 virus in the state now stands at 31.

The latest fatalities are a 16-year-old boy Ranjit R. from Malathahalli in Bangalore who died in Sagar Hospital in Jayanagar, a 45-year-old man who died in a private hospital in Belgaum and a 36-year-old woman who died in a private hospital in Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district.

"The test results of all the three arrived Wednesday evening and were found positive for H1N1," Principal Secretary (Health) I.R. Perumal told a news service.

"We know people are anxious as death toll due to swine flu in the state continues to rise. But government is taking all measures to control the pandemic," added Perumal.

Expressing concern about the continuous rise in death toll in the state due to swine flu, Bangalore-based school teacher Malavika Sharma said: "Everyday someone is dying in Bangalore. We are concerned."

Echoing Malavika, software-professional Rajat Rai said: "Government needs to devise a mechanism to put an end to number of deaths due to H1N1."

Meanwhile, 32 more people tested positive for swine flu Wednesday, taking the number of confirmed cases in the state to 517.

While 22 of them are from Bangalore, three each are from Belgaum and Bijapur, two from Dharwad and one each from Karwar and Davangere.

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