India swine flu toll rises to 21

The death toll in the swine flu outbreak across Indian states has climbed to 21 since the beginning of the year, officials and news reports said Wednesday, according to dpa. Nearly 300 cases of H1N1 influenza have been reported from 10 states and most deaths were reported from the western state of Maharashtra, the Times of India newspaper reported. The state's second-biggest city of Pune is the worst hit in the country, accounting for 13 deaths last month, the Daily News and Analysis reported. The remaining deaths occurred in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Health Ministry spokeswoman Shefali Saran said the government did not have confirmed figures, but said there was "no reason to panic."