Three more H1N1 deaths, nationwide toll mounts to 28

27-year-old first to die after testing positive; 19 new cases reported

While two women, both aged 27, succumbed to the deadly virus in Bangalore one 36-year old woman died of the disease in Pune.

With five deaths Bangalore so far accounts for the second largest number of flu deaths after Pune, where the toll is 13.

Besides Pune and Bangalore, one person each has died due to the viral disease in Ahmedabad, Nashik, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Raipur and Bilapur and two each in Mumbai and Vadodara.

Shamshad Begum and Shilpa Hegde fell prey to the infection at different hospitals here last night, health officials said. Their test reports confirmed swine flu virus, they said.

Admitted to Baptist Hospital on August 10, Begum was suffering from shortness of breath for the past three months and from cough and cold and fever lately, Medical Superintendent Chandy Abraham said.

A 36-year-old woman died of swine flu in Sasson hospital in Pune late tonight, official sources said.

The woman named Bina Gonsalves was admitted to the hospital on August 13 with suspected swine flu symptoms, they said.

With this, the death toll due to the disease rose to 28 across the country. This is the thirteenth swine flu death in Pune.