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Swine flu kills 812 in India, over 13,000 infected

The cities of Rajasthan and Gujarat have been the most affected with the deadly virus.

By Alexandra Gratereaux
Image of the H1N1 influenza virus, taken in the CDC Influenza Laboratory. Photo courtesy CDC
Image of the H1N1 influenza virus, taken in the CDC Influenza Laboratory. Photo courtesy CDC

RAJASTHAN, India, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- The H1N1 virus, better known as swine flu, has infected more than 13,000 people in India and killed more than 800.

The cities of Rajasthan and Gujarat have been the most affected with the disease. {linkThe Hindu: "http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/swine-flu-claims-38-more-lives/article6922371.ece" target="_blank"} are reported that in Rajasthan alone 212 lives have been claimed by the disease, while in Gujarat 207 have died.

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The country's health ministry published a report on Sunday stating that 13,688 Indian citizens had been infected with swine flu.

Meanwhile, the number of residents who died in Maharashtra rose to 99, according to Maharashtra state Health Minister Dr. Deepak Sawant. In Jammu and Kashmir, only five have perished, but 119 have tested positive for H1N1, officials said.

Private doctors in the northern part of the country are accusing the government of downplaying the number of swine flu cases.

"The actual number is much higher than what the State claims," said Suman Yadav, the district president of the Indian Medical Association.

"The government is either underestimating the situation or just downplaying swine flu," she added.

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