Pune, Monday 10 August 2009: A 35-year-old ayurvedic doctor died of influenza A(H1N1) infection here on Monday morning, becoming the fifth swine flu victim in the country.

Babasahib Mane was admitted to Sassoon General Hospital five days ago and had been on the ventilator since the last three days. He died at 7:15 am today, Maharashtra’s swine flu control room head Pradip Awate said.

Pune schoolgirl Reeda Shaikh had died on August 3, becoming India’s first swine flu victim. Sanjay Kokare, a school teacher, died in Sassoon Hospital here after midnight on Saturday.

The other two swine flu victims were Pravin Patel, an NRI who died at the civil hospital in Gujarat’s main city Ahmedabad early Sunday, and Fahmida Panwala, who succumbed to the virus late Saturday in Mumbai’s Kasturba Hospital.

On Sunday, three people continued to be in a critical condition and 82 fresh cases were reported, taking the total number of people infected by the virus to 864, the Union Health Ministry said.

Authorities in Maharashtra and Gujarat - which account for the five deaths - were on high alert.

As Pune has become the epidemic city, a central team has been stationed there to assess the situation and institute appropriate public health measures.

The virus’ spread and rising toll forced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s office on Sunday to start monitoring the situation.

PM Singh told Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad that a panel of doctors be formed to provide the people “correct information” regarding swine flu.

According to an official in the PMO, Dr Singh said the panel should also provide proper information to the media.