Swine flu toll in Rajasthan now 286

Jaipur, March 3 (IANS) The toll due to swine flu in Rajasthan touched 286 on Tuesday, health officials said.

"The number of positive cases have started to slow down. The total positive cases as of today (March 3) was 5,782 from January 1. Only 67 new positive cases were reported from across the state today (Tuesday)," a health department official said.

Nine deaths were reported on Tuesday, taking the total due to H1N1 virus to 286, he said.

The highest number of deaths at 57 has been reported from Jaipur, followed by Ajmer at 32 and Jodhpur at 30.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, while thanking doctors for helping control swine flu, said that almost 95 percent of the people suffering from the virus have been treated.

"Though I am pained due to the deaths, I feel Rajasthan's position is much better in controlling the spread of the flu in comparison to other states," Raje said in her reply to the governor's address.

The Rajasthan government has decided to provide face masks free of cost to H1N1 patients at government hospitals.

The government has so far distributed over 32 lakh Tamiflu tablets across the state.