6 Die in 24 Hours Due to Swine Flu in Madhya Pradesh, Say Sources

Swine flu has claimed six lives in Madhya Pradesh in the last 24 hours, according to sources in the state health department.

The Madhya Pradesh government has been trying to downplay the incidents of swine flu, they say; the government claims the state has witnessed only 44 deaths since January this year.

Unofficial reports suggest that the total number of deaths has crossed 60, but the state health ministry is yet to confirm this.

Health Minister Narottam Mishra told media personnel,"23 swine flu patients died while undergoing treatment at private hospitals while 21 deaths occurred in state-run hospitals across the state. And 66 patients were undergoing treatment for swine flu at different hospitals across the state. On the instructions of the Chief Minister, a task force has been formed. A review meeting will be held every day at 10 am, chaired by the Chief Minister."

Earlier this week, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with Health Minister and other senior officials, reviewed the arrangements at the swine flu ward in Bhopal's Jay Prakash hospital.

Opposition parties -- the Congress and the AAP -- yesterday held protests against the Health Minister,  demanding his resignation. They have alleged that the state government is in denial over the threat posed by the disease.

Sources in the health department say that the situation may persist for two more weeks as some parts of the state are still receiving rains, and this kind of weather is favorable for the H1N1 virus that causes swine flu.