Swine flu today claimed six lives in Gujarat, taking the toll in the state this month to 37.
"Six persons died today -- three in Kutch region and one each in Ahmedabad, Surat and Anand. The total number of deaths in January has reached 37," said health commissioner J P Gupta.
Twenty-five cases of swine flu infection were reported today, taking the total to 267 in January.
Kutch district is the worst-affected with eleven deaths including the deaths of three women today. The district health department said 114 cases of H1N1 virus infection were reported in January.
"Kutch is an endemic zone for H1N1 virus. In 2010 and 2013 we had received a large number of cases from this region. In 2010 we had reported 50 deaths in Kutch," Gupta said.
"It is likely due to the atmospheric conditions, having both cold and moisture, where swine flu virus thrives," added Gupta.
As many as 549 people tested positive for swine flu infection in Telangana in January while 27 people died due to the disease or "related complications", the state government said.
A total of 1,581 samples were tested between January 1 to January 30, it said. Yesterday 107 samples were tested, out of which 26 were found to be positive, it said, adding the number was declining with every passing day.
However, people should take precautions and report symptoms like high fever, sneezing and body pain to the doctor immediately, it said.
The government had also advised all the hospitals to take steps to isolate the patients suspected to have the infection.