The H1N1 virus or Swine Flu claimed five more lives in Ahmedabad on Tuesday raising concerns over the outbreak taking the shape of an epidemic. The deadly virus has claimed 155 lives since January 1, while total 1936 positive cases have been found in the state with 722 already cured.

A latest state government statement mentioned 155 new cases of the virus infection being reported from across the state on Tuesday. Of the 155 new cases, Ahmedabad reported 89 positive cases, Surat 14, Kutch 9, five each in Gandhinagar and Vadodara, four in Amreli while three each in Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Kheda districts. 

On Tuesday, one death was reported in each district of Kutch, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar, Anand and Bharuch. The spread of the virus was across the state, yet Ahmedabad and Kutch districts were among the worst affected ones in the state.

Currently, 1059 infected people are under treatment at various government and private hospitals across the state. 

The state government has launched awareness campaign across the state by sending health workers to rural and urban pockets.

So far, about 4 crore people have been covered under the awareness campaign, while over 4000 close contact cases of swine flu were traced and provided necessary treatment, the state government statement said. 

Notably, last week Union Health Minister JP Nadda had rushed to Ahmedabad to take stock of the situation. Nadda held meetings with state health minister Nitin Patel and health department officials to take effective measures to tackle the deadly disease.

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