12 new cases of swine flu, total 128 in India

New Delhi, July 3 : Twelve new cases of swine flu were reported in the country Friday, taking the total number of influenza A (H1N1) cases to 128, health officials said here.

'About 837 persons have been tested so far, of which 128 are positive for Influenza A H1N1. Of the 128 positive cases, 82 have been discharged,' a statement issued here said.

The 12 cases were reported from - Bangalore (6), Kozhikode (2), Delhi (2), Hyderabad (1) and Amritsar (1).

The health ministry also denied reports that a patient from Kerala had died due to the virus. 'This is not correct. His throat and nasal swab have tested negative for influenza A at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Delhi,' it said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 77,201 confirmed cases of influenza A infection have been reported from 120 countries till July 1. There have been 332 deaths worldwide, most of them in Mexico and the US.