Czech authorities register seven swine flu deaths

Seven people have died of the swine flu in the Czech Republic to date. The country’s chief hygiene officer, Michael Vít confirmed the number on Wednesday after tests showed that a 42-year old man who died in a hospital in Plzeň, western Bohemia was infected with the H1N1 virus.

Mr Vít said that three out the country’s 14 regions have reached epidemic levels, with more than 2000 patients per 100,000 inhabitants. Vaccination against the swine flu began earlier this week. Health authorities are now distributing some 95,000 vaccines, while another 90,000 vaccines should be delivered in early December.