Egypt on Sunday reported five more death cases of influenza A/H1N1, bringing the nationwide death toll to 224, said the Health Ministry in a statement.

The dead cases came from the governorates of Gharbiya, Sohag, Port Said, Beni Suef and Giza, said the statement.

Up till now, Egypt has reported more than 15,000 cases of the novel flu, according to the Health Ministry.

Egypt confirmed its first influenza A/H1N1 death case on July 19. A 28-year-old Egyptian woman, who was back from Saudi Arabia after making Umrah (pilgrimage to Mecca at any time of the year), died of the flu virus.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2010)