Three swine flu deaths take India's toll to 489

Three swine flu deaths were reported in the country Friday, taking the toll to 489, health authorities said here.

Apart from two in Kerala, one death was reported from Maharashtra. The total deaths in Maharashtra have gone up to 206 - the highest in India.

In Kerala, the Influenza A (H1N1) virus toll has touched 18, health authorities said here.

Also, 78 new infections were reported in the country Friday, taking the total number of people affected with the contagious virus to 14,340.

"Till date, samples from 75,516 people have been tested for Influenza A (H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country and 14,340 of them have been found positive," a statement issued here said.

Of the 78 new cases, the national capital alone recorded 23 cases. The total number of people infected with the flu in the Indian capital has gone up to 3,574 so far. According to the union health ministry, about 16 deaths have been recorded so far in Delhi.

New cases were also recorded from Maharashtra (14), Haryana (14), Kerala (8), Karnataka (7) and Tamil Nadu (3).