Three children died of swine flu in the last three days, taking the death toll to 96. Four-year-old Mahesh Kale from Pimpri, five-and-a-half-month-old Praniti Lohokare from Ambegaon and Amar Ingale from Hingoli died of complications related to H1IN1 virus.

Sharvari Gokhale, state Additional Chief Secretary, who was in Pune on Friday, said despite providing Tamiflu tablets and setting up screening centres, people did not immediately start treatment in case suspected swine flu symptoms showed. The National Institute of Virology confirmed that the deaths of the children were due to H1N1 virus. Mahesh died on October 28, Praniti died on October 29 and one-month-old Amar died on Friday.

Gokhale said maximum number of deaths due to swine flu had reached its peak in September. She said of 197 deaths in the state a majority were due to delay in treatment. “We have set up screening centres, informed private practitioners and supplied stock of Tamiflu tablets across chemists shops in the state. The onus also lies on people with suspected symptoms to immediately visit the doctor and start treatment.”

She said it was difficult to predict a second wave as unlike western countries the winter months of November, December and January were comparatively mild.