Swine flu claims two lives in Indian-controlled Kashmir

The deadly H1N1 virus which causes swine flu has claimed two lives in Indian-controlled Kashmir and over 70 people have tested positive, health officials said on Wednesday.

"In the institute we have so far recorded two deaths of the patients who were infected with the H1N1 virus," Director of the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Showkat Zargar said.

"Of the samples that we have received, 71 have tested positive for the virus," he added.

Zargar along with region's top officials was addressing a press conference at SKIMS, a premier health institute in the region.

According to official sources, the institute has received 670 samples from across the region.

"There is no need to panic. At this stage we have medicines to counter it," Zargar said.

However, the SKIMS director cautioned that in case the number of cases increases at an alarming pace, the available health infrastructure was not prepared to tackle it.

"There is shortage of medicine all across the country," Zargar said.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by a strain of the influenza type A virus - H1N1.

Health officials have issued warnings in the local media to raise public awareness about swine flu.

An outbreak of swine flu in India's Telangana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra states has claimed at least 620 lives.

A total of 9,311 people are reportedly affected by the flu across India this year, the highest in the past few years. Endi