india

Updated: Feb 24, 2015 11:47 IST

Gujarat's minister of state for health Shankar Chaudhary has tested positive for swine flu, just days after the assembly Speaker was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. Chaudhary is now undergoing treatment at a special isolation room in his house in Gandhinagar.

"Shankar Chaudhary report… has revealed that he is having swine flu. He is now being treated at a special isolation room created at his residence in Gandhinagar (sic)," state health commissioner JP Gupta said on Monday.

Chaudhary attended the state assembly session on Monday and took part in a discussion on the steps taken by the state government to control the outbreak of swine flu in the state.

"Thnx all 4 ur concern(sic). With ur love, affection, prayers n blessings, I m sure to get back to office soon. Thanks once again," Chaudhary tweeted.

On Friday, Gujarat assembly Speaker Ganpat Vasava had been tested positive for H1N1 virus and was admitted in a Surat hospital.

So far, 219 people have died of swine flu in the state, while the number of cases has gone up to 3,337.

The government has come in for severe criticism from the Opposition Congress, alleging it had failed to tackle the swine flu surge in the state.

"Swine flu has become epidemic and yet the stat government is not ready to declare epidemic in the state. There is huge shortage of medicines and medical staff including doctors in the government hospitals," Congress MLA and former health minister Shaktisinh Gohil said.

Ahmedabad district collector Rajkumar Beniwal issued a notification banning gathering of more than 10 people at any public place in order to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus.

Swine flu claimed the lives of 21 more people as the toll reached 833 across the country on Monday, while the number of persons affected by H1N1 virus breached the 14,000 mark.

Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot had recently tested positive for swine flu. "Mujhe bhi swine flu positive aaya hai, lekin maine samay par ilaaj shuru kar liya hai, ab improvement hai," he had tweeted after he was diagnosed.