The Malaysian Health Ministry on Saturday confirmed three new deaths of influenza A/H1N1, bringing the death toll to 59.

The ministry said that the new deaths involved victims aged 22, 29 and 44 who had risk factors of obese, valvular heat disease and asthma respectively.

Meanwhile, the ministry said that 120 A/H1N1 flu infections are still in wards for medical treatment among which 29 are being kept in the intensive care unit (ICU).

The ministry also said that antiviral treatment would be given to three groups immediately without being tested to confirm influenza A/H1N1.

The three groups including individuals with risk factors, individuals with persistent high fever more than two days, and individuals who face complications after being tested positive through rapid test, said the ministry.

Rapid test can confirm if an individual is having Type A or Type B flu within 15 minutes.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2009)