Hyderabad, March 12 (IANS): Three more people have died of swine flu in Telangana, taking the toll to 69, officials said on Thursday.

Despite the increase in day temperature, swine flu cases continue to be reported in the state.

According to a bulletin by the health department, three deaths were reported since Wednesday, taking the toll to 69 since January 1. Officials said 37 people were tested positive for H1N1 virus since Wednesday.

The bulletin said 117 samples were tested for H1N1 virus on Wednesday and out of them, 41 were found positive.

The authorities have screened 5,967 samples since January 1 and out of them 1,925 were found positive.

Officials said enough stocks of medicines and testing kits have been made available at all teaching, district and area hospitals.

They advised people to take all precautions and approach the nearest hospital on the first symptoms of swine flu like high fever, sneezing, cough and body pain, clean their hands as frequently as possible and cover nose/mouth while sneezing and coughing.