Swine Flu Has Claimed More Than 1,000 Lives In India This Year

The death toll from the H1N1 virus stands at 1,075, with more than 20,000 cases in the country.

India's health ministry said that 1,115 people have died of swine flu in 2015, with a total of 20,795 cases of the disease, theTimes of India reported.

The disease, caused by the H1N1 virus, has claimed more than 900 lives nationwide in just 11 weeks.

The state of Gujarat has the highest number of reported deaths with 265 victims and more than 4,000 cases.

Officials in Ahmedabad — the capital of Gujarat, which is the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi — banned public gatherings of five or more people, except marriages and funerals, to control the spread of the virus in February, the BBC reported.

In addition, the states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh have been most affected by the disease.

Rajasthan has the second highest death toll with 267 victims and 5,610 cases, while the virus has killed 160 in Madhya Pradesh, 152 in Maharashtra, and 57 in Telangana.

The country's capital of Delhi has 10 casualties with nearly 3,000 people affected.

Officials cautioned that incidences of the disease would not decrease during the current monsoon season.

"Both the unseasonal rainfall and a dip in temperature are suitable conditions for this deadly virus to incubate," a health official told The Indian Express.

According to the country's health minister, the 21 laboratories equipped to test swine flu were "not enough," NDTV News reported. Provisions are being made to set up testing facilities in every state.

The government has asked people not to panic and remain alert.

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