H1N1 fatalities double

August 16 2009 at 04:52PM

South Africa's swine flu death toll has increased to six in two weeks making the country the worst affected by the epidemic on the continent, health officials said on Sunday.

Three people died last week, two pregnant women aged 23 and 27 and a man in his 60s.

"Swine flu fatalities in the country now stand at six, this makes us the leading country in Africa with the most A(H1N1) case load and fatalities," national health spokesman Fidel Hadebe, told AFP.

He said fatalities were reported from different provinces.

South Africa reported its first infection in June and the country is dealing with some 2 800 cases so far, according to the health department. - AFP