Swine Flu Cases Surge in Maharashtra; Pune Tops State With 789 Infections
Pune, 5th November 2026: Amid a rise in dengue cases, swine flu has emerged as another health concern for Pune, which has reported the highest number of infections in Maharashtra this year. The city recorded 789 cases and three deaths between January and October, according to the state health department.
Maharashtra reported 2,858 swine flu cases and 35 deaths during the 10-month period, a significant increase from 379 cases in 2025, though lower than the 1,460 cases recorded in 2024.
Pune accounted for the highest number of infections, followed by Mumbai with 648 cases, Nagpur with 413 and Nashik with 376. Pimpri Chinchwad reported 159 cases, while Kolhapur district recorded 128.
The state health department screened 13.1 lakh people between January and October, identifying 4,375 suspected cases, of which 2,858 tested positive.
Nagpur reported the highest number of deaths at 23, followed by Nashik with eight, Pune with three and Navi Mumbai with one.
The health department said free and voluntary influenza vaccination has been available since 2024 for high-risk groups, including pregnant women in their second and third trimesters, people with diabetes and hypertension, and healthcare workers.
It said suspected patients were being monitored and treated based on their symptoms. Isolation facilities have been arranged at district and sub-district hospitals and medical colleges, while government and private hospitals have been asked to maintain adequate stocks of oseltamivir, the antiviral drug used to treat swine flu.
The department has also directed regular reviews of deaths caused by influenza, including H1N1 and H3N2, to assess the circumstances and identify possible gaps in treatment.
