New Delhi: Even as India is grappling with the swine flu which has claimed over 165 lives in the last two months, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said there is an increasing trend of the pandemic in the country.
   In its recent update on the deadly disease, the UN agency, on its official website, said, “In the tropical regions of Asia, respiratory disease activity remains geographically regional or widespread but the trend is generally increasing as noted in India, Bangladesh, and Cambodia.’’
   WHO has already termed as highest the number of fatalities due to swine flu in India as compared to other countries, according to health ministry sources here.
   As against India, the agency said in the temperate region of the southern hemisphere (represented by countries such as Chile, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa), influenza activity continues to decrease or return to the baseline.
   Noting that an average of two private health care facilities were visited by the patients in India prior to coming to the designated government hospital, WHO said 44% of the fatal cases had a known underlying condition such as diabetes, lung or heart disease or AIDS.
   However, WHO has still categorized as moderate the intensity and the impact of the swine flu in India so far. AGENCIES

7 more die of H1N1 flu, nat’l toll touches 174    

Seven people, including a pregnant woman, succumbed to swine flu across the country on Sunday, taking the nationwide toll to 174. In Pune, two persons, including a pregnant woman, died at the Sassoon Hospital on Sunday, taking the swine flu toll in the city to 43. With two more deaths in Hyderabad on Sunday, the toll due to the deadly disease mounted to nine in Andhra Pradesh. Health ministry beefed up surveillance in Karnataka on Sunday after three H1N1 deaths were reported from the state. TNN

3 more test positive for virus in Doon School    

The Doon School on Sunday reported three more cases of swine flu, taking the total number of students affected by the virus in the institution to 13. Nodal officer for swine flu Pankaj Jain said 10 more samples of swab taken from students and staff members of the school were sent to NICD New Delhi, which confirmed three cases as positive. Meanwhile, the classes remained suspended with the management deciding to resume them on September 22. A school spokesman said doctors are continuously monitoring the situation. AGENCIES