Thailand records 11th swine flu death

BANGKOK, July 8 (UPI) -- Two people died of swine flu in Thailand, bringing the total for the country to 11, officials said Wednesday.

The country's Public Health Ministry confirmed a 19-year-old student in Phatthalung and a 21-year-old woman living in Bangkok were the latest flu fatalities, the Bangkok Post reported.

Rewat Wisarutvej, Department of Medical Services chief, said the woman had been admitted to a hospital with a thyroid disorder but died Monday from the flu virus.

Dr. Rewat told the Post that eight swine flu, or H1N1, patients remained in critical condition, adding that many of them were on respiratory machines.

About 290 new cases of the swine flu virus were reported Wednesday, bringing the total number of infections in Thailand to 2,718, officials said.

As of Monday, the World Health Organization said it had tallied 429 swine flu deaths and has confirmed 94,512 cases in about 100 countries since the outbreak started in Mexico in April.