PUNE: Officials alarmed by the rising H1N1 death toll, which reached 56 on Saturday in the epicenter for the pandemic in India, Pune, sounded a high alert prior to elections for the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
The District Collector Chandrakant Dalvi said the rising death toll is now a cause of worry for doctors who are struggling to contain this first wave of the flu that shows no signs of abating. Dalvi reiterated his appeal that there should be no crowding during the 10-day long Hindu festival of Navratri, which begins today, and Eid Al-fitr which is likely to begin on Monday. Dalvi has also made it clear that all political parties should not hold their election rallies near hospitals or H1N1-screening centers to prevent transmission of the swine flu virus. The political parties should also avoid foot-marches during their campaigns to prevent crowding and reduce chances of spreading of virus, he added.
Dalvi also urged people with flu-like symptoms not to participate in public rallies. “In the last eight days, the number of suspected cases coming to screening centers has shown an increase by 150 to 200 people,” he said. “It has become imperative to reduce people-to-people contact. We are also asking the Navratri festival organizers to scale down the celebrations considering the prevailing situation. The same precautionary advice has also be given to the Muslims during Eid Al-fitr celebrations.”
