Swine Flu is spreading rapidly and with 40 more deaths the toll from the disease has now reached 1,115 while the total number of affected has crossed the 20,000 mark according to a Zee News report. This is the worst Swine Flu outbreak in the last five years in India.

Source: holione.com

According to health department officials, the weather change is conducive for spread of the H1N1 virus and public gatherings during Holi celebrations this week may result in escalation of cases.

The virus is known to thrive and spread during monsoon and due to the recent heavy rainfall in northern India the possibility of a decrease in virus has gone down. High temperatures are a deterrent for the Swine Flu virus.

According to the latest data, Gujarat is the most affected where 275 people have died and 4,614 have contracted the disease. Rajasthan follows next with 267 dead and 5,610 affected; Madhya Pradesh with 160 dead, 1,054 affected; Maharashtra's toll at 152 with 1,789 reported cases. Delhi's toll stands at 10 and 2,999 people are swine flu positive.

In Vadodara, Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed that restricts movement of people in groups to discourage crowd gathering in places.

With the disease spreading rapidly, an ongoing change of  weather, and an outbreak of this magnitude, it is essential to take precaution, especially on Holi.

This Holi greet from a distance and avoid the hug!

AHMEDABAD: Ahmedabad district collector invoked the Criminal Procedure Code's Section 144 here on Tuesday, prohibiting mass gatherings without prior permission in order to prevent swine flu, an official statement stated.

"It has come to our notice that swine flu cases have been on the rise in Gujarat including Ahmedabad. The virus, which causes swine flu, is contagious and generally infects people by entering through nostrils and mouth mostly at crowded places," the Ahmedabad district collectorate statement said.

The move has come after Gujarat registered more than 230 swine flu deaths, which include more than 50 fatalities in Ahmedabad, since January this year.

The number of positive cases swine flu recorded in Gujarat is 3,527 and the disease has caused the highest number of deaths in Gujarat compared to other states in the country.

However, the Collector has exempted people gathering at marriages and death processions from Section 144.

If public events cannot be called off or postponed, organisers would have to take prior permission also have to ensure that proper care is being taken to stop the spread of swine flu, like providing masks to all people as well as dispose off these masks after their use, the statement said.

It added that organizers of such events should display big billboards with swine flu prevention measures like washing of hands with soap at regular intervals.

Meanwhile, swine flu on Tuesday claimed 12 more lives in Gujarat, taking the total number of deaths due to the H1N1 virus to 231 so far even as 190 new positive cases were detected in a day.

"Gujarat has recorded 12 swine flu deaths and 231 new cases today. While the total number of deaths has climbed to 231, and that of positive cases to 3,527 since January this year," according to an official statement issued by Gujarat government.