Moreover, widespread heavy rain during the weekend over several parts of Northwest India including Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh has aggravated the situation.
The overcast and humid conditions prevailing in these states allow the swine flu virus to sustain for longer duration. This leads to higher risk and vulnerability in terms of exposure and contraction.
As per the latest figures released by the Union Health Ministry on March 14, swine flu has claimed lives of 1,710 people and 29,558 have been infected by the contagious disease.
Gujarat remained the worst affected state as it reported 382 death cases, followed by Rajasthan at 375 and Maharashtra at 288. Delhi has also reported 11 deaths so far.
Recent showers have dampened the hopes of doctors and people, who were quite hopeful that increased day temperatures would curb the spread of deadly virus. According to the forecast by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, more rains are predicted over Rajasthan and Maharashtra during the next 24 hours, which has raised serious concerns.
According to the recent research conducted by the scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the current strain of the H1N1 virus has mutated to become even more virulent. It contradicts the claims of the Indian health authorities which state that since 2009, the virus has not mutated.
But, the study says that the virus is now even more dangerous than the previous strains. The two MIT researchers have stressed on the need for better surveillance to track the outbreak and help scientists to find a core solution on how to respond to this virus.