Mumbai, June 14: Monsoon has arrived and once again the fear of swine flu has gripped the country with numerous fresh cases being reported in the country. State officials in Pune, for instance, have been instructed to be alert in view of the increasing number of swine flu cases being reported since June 1.

Pune, especially, has sent alarm bells ringing among health officials because it was one of the worst states affected during last year’s attack of swine flu in the country.

In Kerala, the death of a 24-year old woman who had been undergoing treatment for severe respiratory problems at a hospital in Kottyam took the total death toll in the state to 15 since May 1st this year. The number of swine flu positive cases reported in the state had risen from 29 to 36 on June 12. The highest numbers of cases reported, 13 as of now, are from Thiruvananthapuram district followed by 8 cases from Kollam.

State health authorities are taking necessary steps and following government advisories to keep the H1N1 virus in check this monsoon.

The World Health Organization said recently that 18,156 people had died from swine flu, a year after the influenza was declared a pandemic.

Though the virus is now "globally less active," children and pregnant women in particular need to remain vigilant.

Tags: swine flu, monsoon

Also read:
Swine flu: A complete picture