IANS

Bangalore, Sep 10: With three new swine flu deaths being reported in Karnataka, the death toll due to the H1N1 virus in the state reached 47, a health official said here Thursday.

A five-year-old admitted on Sep 1 died on the same day at a private hospital in Bijapur. Another 40-year-old man admitted on Sep 5 died the next day, again in Bijapur. A 36-year-old man admitted on Sep 6 died the next day at a private hospital in Bagalkot.

However, the report confirming that all three tested positive for the virus was received only on Sep 9, a health official said.

With experts warning that the second wave of the swine flu pandemic might touch a new high during winter, the health department has identified four new laboratories and one hospital in Bangalore for testing H1N1 flu samples.

"Bangalore's Command Hospital is the latest hospital chosen by the health department for testing H1N1 samples. The testing will begin in the hospital from Friday," Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) I.R. Perumal told IANS.

The laboratories will be set up in Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli; Vijaynagar Institute of Medical Sciences, Bellary; Government Medical College, Mysore; and Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute.

"As the death toll due to swine flu is rising fast in the state, the government is taking all measures, including providing adequate infrastructure in terms of hospitals and laboratories to treat and test patients infected with H1N1 virus," said Perumal.

Meanwhile, 35 cases tested positive for the flu with 27 cases reported in Bangalore alone. Two cases were reported in Belgaum and Bijapur and one each in Bagalkot, Gadag, Hubli and Kolar. Till date, 654 people have tested positive for the H1N1 virus in the state.