File Photo: People visit a hospital in Rajasthan, as the state sees a surge in swine flu cases
Rajasthan and Gujarat account for over half the number of swine flu cases in the country. The rapidly rising number of swine flu cases have not only been a cause of concern for the health department, but also the state's tourism industry.
165 people have died since January 1, 2015 and more than 2569 people have testing positive for the disease, making Rajasthan the worst hit state.
Tourists can be seen wearing face masks at frequently visited tourist sites, such as the Jantar Mantar.
Ann, a tourist from Vietnam said "I was told not to come here, but since I had already made a plan, I decided to come. I am just taking precautions like wearing a mask while going sightseeing."
Ann has decided not to cut her holiday short, neither will Philippe - a tourist from France, who is traveling in India with two of his friends.
When asked about the safety measures being taken by his friends and him, he said, "I came to know yesterday when I read the papers, so I don't really know what to do. I am washing my hands regularly. What else should I do?" he enquired. From Jaipur Philippe and his friends plan to go to Agra. He was relieved to know that swine flu is not as widespread in other state.
Though swine flu hasn't had a negative impact on the tourism sector yet, officials are concerned at the steady rise in the number of cases.
Sunil Gupta, President of the Hotel and Restaurant Operators Association in Rajasthan said, "there have been no cancellations so far but yes concern and queries are there from tour operators and tourists."
"Foreign tour operators are asking lots of questions (regarding swine flu), and the latest outbreak appears to be a cause for concern," said Himmat Anand, Founder of Tree of Life Resorts and Hotels.
As a precautionary measure, many hotels in Jaipur are distributing masks to tourists before they step out for sightseeing.
At the railway stations, bus stands, and airports across the state, signboards have been placed, warning visitors about swine flu. Apart from the warning notice, the signs also list the various precautionary measures that can be taken to prevent the disease. The Jaipur railway station also has an LED TV at the entrance, warning visitors about swine flu.
Doctors explain that of the 165 swine flu deaths in Rajasthan, two-thirds of the patients died within 48 hours of being admitted. "This means that the patients are coming in too late, and are perhaps already in the last stage," said Dr KC Meena, additional director in the health department. She urged people to get a check-up as soon as symptoms of swine flu are visible.
Another trend that is worrying is that the maximum number of people getting infected with swine flu are between the ages of 26 and 50. This suggests that people-to-people contact is one of the main reason for the spread of swine flu.