New Delhi, Oct 10  Delhi already has the second highest number of swine flu cases in the country after Maharashtra and with the winter approaching, the situation is just going to get worse, say experts.

But government health officials and doctors advise stringent precautionary measures.

Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia, while acknowledging that the situation will only get worse as the winter comes closer, said all facilities to tackle the flu are in place.

"It's widely known by now that as the temperature drops in the winters, the H1N1 virus will spread more. However, there is no need to panic. If a number of people are testing positive, they are also recovering from the flu," Walia told IANS.

According to the union health ministry, until Thursday Delhi had recorded 2,941 positive cases of swine flu and a death toll of 15 ever since its outbreak in the country May 16. Maharashtra had the highest number of cases, at 3,187 and a toll of 153.

A well known public health expert at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), who did not wish to be named, said the high number of cases in Delhi, or India for that matter, is "nothing unexpected".

He said just like common flu, the transmission of the air-borne swine flu will rise in the winter.

"In winters, there is a tendency (for people) to huddle together in small places which just helps the spread of the flu faster. Moreover, as the World Health Organisation had already said, one-third of the world population will be affected by H1N1 virus; these numbers are quite within the expected range," he said.

As of late Thursday, 11,507 people were affected by swine flu in the country, with the death toll going up to 374, according to health authorities.

Advising precaution, the expert said: "The general hygiene habits should be practised and if there is any fever or sore throat, you should see a doctor. Nothing additional needs to be done."

"Having said that, there must be greater awareness among slum dwellers and the lower strata because the virus has established itself in society and is not confined to high flyers alone," he added.

Agreeing with him, Nandini Guha, a doctor, said: "Swine flu is no longer confined to those who have travelled abroad or those who have been in contact with people going abroad. Therefore, even in buses and the Metro, people need to practise basic hygiene etiquettes, which I often find missing."

Walia said all efforts were being made to reach across to as many people as possible with facts on the flu.

"We have started awareness programmes in government schools, besides advertising the facts on swine flu and precautionary measures in print and on TV," Walia said.

"All our health facilities to tackle the outbreak are in place and I advise people to visit government hospitals in case they see any symptom," she added. (IANS)