Madhya Pradesh the hub of swine flu in 2010

This is perhaps the highest figure of casualties reported in one day in the country so far in 2010.

What is cause for concern is that while the national average of deaths is only 5.28 percent, that of Madhya Pradesh is a startling 38 percent.

Run-down on the cases in the state
The latest victim is 22-year-old Nupur Jain, who succumbed to the disease at People Hi Tech hospital in Bhopal on Saturday.

Nupur, who hailed from Vidisha district had tested positive for swine flu on September 2.

According to health authorities, the deadly virus has killed 33 in the state since August.

With this, 12 have fallen prey to swine flu in Bhopal, 13 in Indore, seven in Jabalpur, and one life lost in Gwalior in the short space of one month.

In addition, 87 people are undergoing treatment in various hospitals of which 23 are stated to be in critical condition.

Among the new batch of serious infections, 14 are under medical intervention in Indore, four in Ujjain, three in Bhopal, and one each in Jabalpur and Gwalior.

Moreover, 11 more persons tested positive for H1N1 yesterday, while 16 with symptoms of the virus were admitted in different hospitals across the state on Saturday.

Situation dismal
Meanwhile, the situation in the state is dismal as the medical facilities available in various hospitals are sub-standard.

According to sources, in Bhopal's Jaypee Hospital, patients meet locked doors instead of doctors.

A patient suffering from swine flu stated, "When we go to the Jaypee Hospital, we are told to go to Hamidia Hospital. But then we are turned back from Hamidia only to be told to go to Jaypee. We poor people keep running from pillar to post. No one treats us.”

Also the private hospitals are facing an acute shortage of vaccines and other supplies while the government hospitals the only alternative for those seeking treatment are grappling with a situation slowly spiraling out of control.

"We have run short of masks, lab-coats, and drugs," said Dr KD Baghel, Dean, Jabalpur Medical College.

To make matters worse, most of the medical fraternity in Jabalpur city are down with H1N1 flu.

Health department on their toes
At this juncture, the main concern of the health department to arrest the virus from spreading or the state will find itself in the grip of a major disaster.

With cases of the deadly infection exhibiting an increasing trend and medical facilities lacking in hospitals, the health officials are working around the clock to make arrangements to curb the spread of the contagion further.

"We are creating more isolation wards in district hospitals. We are also planning to improve Tamiflu supplies in affected areas," said Shivraj Singh Chouhan , Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh.