The number of lives claimed by swine flu in Gujarat reached 38 after another patient from Patan district died of the airborne virus, on Monday.
About 39 people tested positive for H1N1 on Sunday, according to a PTI report, DNA reports.
In January, 37 people died from swine flu in Gujarat. The state has registered nearly 309 swine flu cases and has successfully treated 122 till now.
The current outbreak, like in the past, has hit the Kutch district hard.
The district has recorded 114 swine flu cases last month. Of the six people who died of swine flu on Saturday, three belonged to Kutch district. Rest of the victims were from Surat, Ahmedabad and Anand.
Health officials said that the district's climate was more suitable for spreading of the viral infection.
"Kutch is an endemic zone for H1N1 virus. In 2010 and 2013 we had received a large number of cases from this region. In 2010 we had reported 50 deaths in Kutch," Health Commissioner JP Gupta told PTI on 1 February. "It is likely due to the atmospheric conditions, having both cold and moisture, where swine flu virus thrives."
Meanwhile, Odisha witnessed its first swine flu death in the current outbreak on Sunday.
Aditya Narayan Jena, 42, was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar until his health deteriorated on Sunday. Jena, a diabetic, was soon rushed to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where he succumbed to the deadly disease, DNA reported.
Health officials, while confirming the news, said that there is no need to panic. "This is the first death due to swine flu this year. There is no reason to panic over the incident. We have enough medicines and facilities in government and private hospitals," Health Secretary Ahuja told news agency PTI.
Odisha had reported two swine flu cases in January. The patients include a 65-year-old man from Balipatna in the Khordha district and a 37-year-old man from Bayababa Math in Bhubaneswar.
