With the death of a one-year-old boy with symptoms of swine flu (H1N1) in Salem, the disease appears to be spreading fast in the western districts.

The boy, residing in Ammapete in Salem, was suffering from high fever and was admitted to the Salem Government Hospital. As he was not responding to treatment, he was brought and admitted to a private hospital here, police sources said. However, he died in the early hours of today, they said.

A 56-year old woman, Lakshmi, hailing from Annur in the district, was admitted to the Government Hospital with symptoms of swine flu. However, she died a couple of days ago without responding to treatment, the sources said.

Similarly, a 60-year old woman, Sumati of Jothipuram in the city, undergoing treatment for swine flu at the Government Hospital here, died on Sunday evening.

Subramaniam, a Tahsildar in Avanashi in Tirupur district, died of swine flu a week ago. He was undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Tirupur, but was brought and admitted to the Government Hospital, where he died.

His driver, who was also tested H1N1 positive is undergoing treatment at a private hospital here.

Special wards have been created in all government hospitals in the affected districts, as five persons, including one woman, are undergoing treatment for the disease — two in private hospitals and the remaining in the Government Hospital, the sources said.

According to Health Department sources, cases of H1N1 were coming to the Government Hospital from private hospitals at the last minute.

Many cases of such symptoms, particularly high fever and throat pain among children, have been reported in Erode and Tirupur district in the last two days.