Kolkata, March 21 (IANS): Twenty-one fresh cases of swine flu have been recorded in West Bengal, taking the total figure for the state to 427, a health official said on Saturday. CPI-M leader and former minister Gautam Deb is recovering and his health has improved.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist veteran, who was the housing minister in the erstwhile Left Front government, was admitted to the critical care unit of a private hospital here on March 17, after he complained of respiratory distress.

"He is stable. His condition has improved. He no longer requires oxygen support. His dietary intake is also gradually normalising," a hospital official said.

Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Malay Kumar De said there were no deaths since Friday.

"The toll is 24. Twenty-one cases were detected since Friday. The total number of cases is now 427," De told IANS.

He said 310 patients have been cured and discharged from various hospitals in the state and 93 were currently being treated for the H1N1 viral infection.