The death of three more people last week, including that of two pregnant women, have taken the nation’s death toll from the influenza A (H1N1) virus to 50, the health ministry reported Wednesday.

The third swine flu victim was a child who died at the Hanoi-based Vietnam National Hospital Pediatrics.

Since the disease was first detected here, over 11,040 infection cases have been confirmed, Nguyen Huy Nga, head of the ministry’s Department of Preventive Health and Environment, told a meeting on flu control the same day.

According to Nga, while the epidemic seemed to be slowing down with fewer patients brought to the hospital over the past weeks – around 10 people per day, most of them were in critical condition.

Reported by Lien Chau