H1N1 claims eight lives in Pune

PUNE: Eight persons including a 10-month-old baby, have died of swine flu here in the last two days, taking the toll due to the viral infection in the city to 331 since August last year, health officials said on Thursday.

Pune civic medical officer R Pardeshi said the transmission rate of the infection had been showing an upward trend in the last few days and people needed to take proper precautions to prevent and treat the disease.

At the screening centres, 46 persons tested positive for the virus yesterday.

The Maharashtra government has not yet issued any advisory regarding mass administration of anti-swine flu vaccines that have hit markets, an official said.