New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) Twenty two swine flu deaths were reported from across India Thursday, including seven in the national capital, taking the toll due to Influenza A (H1N1) virus to 1,037, health authorities said here.
Also, 99 new cases were reported in the country, taking the number of people affected with the contagious virus to 27,522.

As many as eight deaths were reported from Gujarat, taking the toll in the state to 142. Three deaths had occurred earlier in the state, but the confirmation came Thursday evening, officials said here.

Four deaths were also reported from Rajasthan where the casualties have touched 156. Two deaths were reported from Maharashtra where 284 people have died since the first death was reported in the country Aug 3 last year.

Maharashtra has recorded the highest deaths in the country.

One death occurred in Madhya Pradesh, taking the total number in the state to 12.

In the capital, seven people died of swine flu, taking the toll due to the deadly H1N1 virus in the city to 83, health officials said. The confirmation of the deaths came Thursday, but details are not known yet.

“There were also 15 new infections in the city. Of these, five were children,” a health official told IANS.

The capital has so far reported 9,523 cases, including 5,322 children.

Health authorities said 19 deaths occurred earlier, but were confirmed Thursday.

“Till date, samples from 116,072 people have been tested for Influenza A (H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country and 27,522 of them have been found positive,” said a health ministry statement.

New cases were also reported from Maharashtra (20), Gujarat (20), Rajasthan (13), Punjab (seven), Madhya Pradesh (five) and Kerala (two).