Swine flu: 12 cases detected in Pune, authorities on alert , India

PUNE: Detection of about 12 Swine flu cases in the last fortnight has put the health authorities here on an alert, as two patients are reported to be in a critical condition.

While some of the cases have been detected in a "pro-active" research survey, undertaken by the city-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) in a locality here, other non-specified areas, too, have reported H1N1 infections. "While the cases detected by NIV are being treated as outdoor patients without admission, other cases, which include two critical ones, call for a greater surveillance, as Pune had not reported any fatality on account of Swine flu in the last year," Dr Pradip Awate, State swine flu surveillance officer told PTI.

Two of the three critical patients, admitted to ICU in different hospitals, were put on ventilator, health officials said. General practitioners, treating seasonal influenza cases, have been advised to screen patients for suspected H1N1 infections, they added. Pune became the epicentre of swine flu cases since recording the first fatality of the dreaded infection in 2009, leading to vigorous surveillance measures that saw a substantial reduction in its transmission. Source

Wildfire rages near Maple Cree, Canada

Fire crews are making headway on a raging grass fire near Maple Creek, in southwest Saskatchewan, officials say.

The wild fire is burning north of the Trans-Canada Highway and led to the evacuation of at least two farmyards.

Late Tuesday night, local fire chief Keith Stork told CBC News the western edge of the fire was under control and crews were able to stop the fire from advancing east. It was stopped about five kilometres north of the Trans-Canada, near Highway 21.

The fire blazed through several farmyards, although there were no reports of injuries.

Stork said crews were tending to flare-ups and expected to be working through the night.

"We're getting lots of flare ups," Stork said. "We still have winds gusting up ... so what we're getting is these fingers burning out from the burnt spots." Read More