New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS) Seventeen swine flu deaths, 15 of them from Rajasthan, were reported Monday, taking the country’s toll to 502, health department officials said here.
While one death was reported Monday in Rajasthan, the rest 14 had occurred in the state earlier.

With these 15 deaths, the toll has jumped to 17 in Rajasthan where 101 people have been tested positive for the contagious flu so far.

“State health authorities of Rajasthan have communicated 14 deaths of laboratory confirmed cases from the various districts of Rajasthan,” said an official here.

While six deaths occurred in Jaipur, five were reported from Jodhpur and three from Kota. These deaths had occurred between Oct 7 to Nov 7, the health ministry official said.

One death each was reported from Kerala and Orissa Monday. In Kerala, 21 people have succumbed to the virus, while for the first time one death was reported from Orissa, authorities said.

Also, 95 new cases were reported in the country, taking the total number of people affected with the flu to 14,572.

“Till date, samples from 76,450 people have been tested for Influenza A (H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country, and 14,572 of them have been found positive,” said a statement issued here.

Delhi recorded 19 new cases Monday. With this, the number of people affected with the flu has gone up to 3,623 - the second highest in the country. As many as 16 people have died due to the influenza in the national capital.

Maharashtra continues to report new cases. On Monday, 11 people were tested positive for the flu. With these, 3,727 people have been detected with the flu. As many as 207 people have died in the state.

New cases were also recorded from Tamil Nadu (16), Karnataka (three), Haryana (four) and Andhra Pradesh (one).