Two Palestinians died Sunday of A/ H1N1 flu in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, increasing the death toll to 10 since the virus was first diagnosed on early December.

Hassan Khalad, deputy health minister in the deposed Hamas administration did not reveal the ages and the names of latest victims.

He only told reporters in Gaza that the two fatalities "had suffered from several diseases" in addition to the A/H1N1 flu.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in the West Bank was the first to announce that the A/H1N1 disease had been found in the blockaded Gaza on December 4, but Hamas authorities admitted the flu in Gaza until December 6.

Meanwhile, Khalaf said that the number of people infected with the virus in Gaza has reached 67.

He also said Gaza hospitals are in need of 300,000 vaccines for the medical crews and vulnerable people.

(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2009)