Maharashtra: 172 positive swine flu cases reported so far

With Mumbai recording four fresh cases, Dr Pradeep Awte, head of state influenza cell, said 172 positive cases have been registered by the state flu monitoring cell till date.

Pune tops the list with 118 cases followed by Mumbai (26), Panchgani (Satara dist) 25, Nasik (1) and Thane(2).

Amid reports of private clinics and doctors refusing to see patients and directly referring them to civic Naidu Hospital, official sources said that the government was planning to issue a circular making it obligatory on part of private practitioners to see patients who approach them with complaints of cough and cold.

Meanwhile, The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation announced that it would set up two more isolation wards at civic hospitals, as at present there is only one such centre -- the Kasturba Hospital on Arthur Road.

"Patients find it difficult to come all the way to Kasturba hospital which is in the island city. We are holding a meeting on Friday to identify hospitals in Eastern and Western suburbs where the wards would be set up," Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said.

As it has been observed that the virus has mainly struck children, teenagers and pregnant women, Mhaiskar said, the BMC is issuing a 20-point circular to all private and public schools in the city, stressing the role of teachers and principals in identification of cases and precautions to be taken by children.