At least 48 people have died from swine flu in the Indian state of Rajasthan since Jan 1, reports Indian media.
Citing authorities, NDTV said on Saturday (Jan 13) that of the total 5,061 samples collected since the beginning of the year, 1,173 have been found positive.
"The health minister has already issued directions for conducting door-to-door screening for patients," said a spokesperson of the medical and health department of Rajasthan.
Last year around 1,100 people died and 15,000 were infected across India by the highly contagious H1N1 virus that spreads from human-to-human.
Cases spike in the winter months of December and January in the west and north of the country, including in Rajasthan and in New Delhi.
Authorities in Rajasthan, famous for its deserts and palaces, have told doctors they must seek permission before going on leave and plan a door-to-door campaign to detect infected patients.
Health officials have also launched an awareness campaign to sensitise people about symptoms, precautions and treatment, and have screened more than 5,100 people.
Rajasthan's Jodhpur district recorded the highest death toll with 16 fatalities and 225 people testing positive.
Ruling BJP’s President Amit Shah was a high-profile victim of swine flu in Delhi this week, who was admitted to the hospital with the virus.