A four-month-old baby girl died of swine flu outside the capital on Thursday, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) confirmed at a press briefing yesterday.

The baby who underwent treatment for swine flu and congenital defect for about a month at a hospital out of the capital breathed her last onThursday.

The name of the child and her whereabouts were not revealed as the family of the victim had to face a lot of troubles while performing religious rituals especially during namaz-e-janaza. said sources from IEDCR.

The government earlier confirmed the first death from the H1N1 virus on August 30 when 37-year-old Mi tali Chakrabarty died at Labaid Hospital in the capital.

But the cause of death of another person Sobhan alias Sagar. 20, who died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital was not confirmed as swine flu in the laboratory. It was clinically confirmed,

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said the government officials.

The number of swine flu patients has risen to 311 since the first case was detected on June 18. said IEDCR Director ProfMahmudur Rahman.

He said swine flu has so far been detected in Dhaka and 13 other districts. The surveillance has been increased in thecapital.

"The spread of the virus is at its peak now," he said, adding that it might fall sharply in todays.

As the government apprehends widespread outbreak of swine flu virus across the country during this Eid season, disseminating awareness messages at the terminals are also under the government's consideration, he said.

"A technical committee meeting will be held at the health ministry today in this regard." hesaid.

Asked about the swine flu vaccine, the IEDCR director informed that the vaccine would hit the world market in October and may be marketed in the country in January.

Meanwhile, a patient infected with swine flu virus was admitted into Khulna Medical College Hospital on Monday.

He was identified as Abdur Rahman (18), son of retired Ansar and VDP commander Abdul Aziz of Khulna Shipyard

This was the first swine flu case detected in Khulna. Abdur Rahman is a grocer by profession.