Shingne told mediapersons later that there was no cause for panic and the situation was fully under control.

Besides 66 in Pune, there are 19 cases in Mumbai and 16 in Panchgani, Awate said, giving the latest official figures. Apart from Maharashtra, Delhi is only state with more than 100 victims, he added.

Last Saturday, three of the worst-affected schools in Pune - Abhinav English Medium School, Symbiosis Primary and High School, and Seva Sadan High School - were shut down for a week after many students tested positive for swine flu.

According to Awate, an issue of concern for the authorities is that all the victims display very minor symptoms which are very difficult to diagnose and treat.

However, they all have been quarantined in the Naidu Hospital in Pune, he added. The Mumbai victims are kept in quarantine at the Kasturba Hospital.

Unlike Pune, all the victims in Mumbai are adults who have recently travelled to and from major swine flu affected countries in Europe, South America and the US.

'So far, despite the high number, not a single case can be termed as serious. But we are taking maximum precautions since the virus is unknown and we want to prevent it from spreading, especially among the juvenile victims,' Awate said.