Swine flu: 15 against 48,officials differ on numbers

Gokhale said the situation in the state was better with only 15 fresh cases being registered on Saturday,which she said was a “good sign”.

But Dr Laddha,citing figures for the entire state given by the state swine flu control cell for Saturday,said that of the 33 suspected cases in Naidu Hospital,25 tested positive,in Aundh,out of 28 admitted,21 tested positive,and Sassoon Hospital had two cases as the final tally,taking the total tally in Pune to 48.

In Mumbai,Kasturba Hospital registered 20 positive cases out of the 32 admitted and Satara had seven positive cases of the 10 admitted,Dr Laddha added.

On Saturday,a team from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases was in the city to take stock of the situation. State surveillance team officer Dr R R Katti said the team was here to assess the situation.

Meanwhile,Gokhale added that private hospitals that have all the amenities as laid down by the Union Health Ministry can take in patients.

Two more test positive at Sassoon Hospital
The two suspected cases admitted to Sassoon Hospital on Friday have tested positive for swine flu. A 42-year-old teacher from Daund who was visiting Pune and a 19-year-old from Kasba Peth tested positive for H1N1 on Saturday. Meanwhile,the doctor and chemist admitted on Thursday are critical but stable.

Superintendent at Sassoon Dr P Pawar said three patients were admitted on Friday and two have tested positive. Reports for the third patient,a 13-year-old girl from Ahilyadevi School at Shaniwar Peth,were yet to be confirmed.

The teacher from Kedgaon in Daund was in the city for last one week. He first went to a hospital in Hadpsar at an OPD but soon contracted pneumonia and was brought to Sassoon. Dr Pawar said he has been put on ventilator. Late on Saturday evening a pregnant woman was admitted with symptoms of swine flu and her throat and nasal swabs were sent for test. Reports are awaited,Pawar said.