Two persons, who tested positive for H1N1, died in the southern Indian state of Kerala even as 14 more swine flu cases have been reported, Press Trust of India quoted officials as saying yesterday.

According to a release from the Directorate of Health Services, a 59-year-old man of Pallimoola in Thrissur district died in a private hospital on July 10.

He tested positive for the swine flu virus and the death was caused by broncho pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), it said.

In another case, a 42-year-old woman from Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district, whose H1NI status was confirmed, died in a private hospital in Kozhikoide on Saturday, also due to ARDS, it said.

According to the release, 14 more cases of H1N1 have been reported since Saturday, taking the total number of afflicted patients to 359 since January this year.

- Bernama