Five more swine flu cases in West Bengal

KOLKATA - Five more people tested positive for swine flu in West Bengal Friday, taking the number of confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1) to 36 in the state this year, the health department said.

“Five confirmed cases of swine flu were reported today (Friday). The cumulative confirmed cases are 36 during the year 2010,” the department said in a statement.

Sixteen people are now in hospitals. Two of them are critical, it added.

A 58-year-old man died last week due to swine flu, becoming the first victim of the flu in the state.

In 2009, 135 people were affected by swine flu in West Bengal. However, there were no casualties.