Two babies and a 26-week pregnant woman were among six new deaths linked to Influenza A (H1N1), bringing the total fatalities due to the disease to 44.

NONE Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said these latest deaths involved people infected between Aug 6 and 9 and that their deaths were reported yesterday as linked to H1N1.

"Four of the cases had risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, heart problems or obesity.

"Their actual dates of death were Aug 7 (four), Aug 9 (one) and Aug 10 (one)," he told a press conference at his ministry here today.

Liow said one of the children, a 10-month-old girl who did not have any congenital problems, had fever and cough symptoms on Aug 1 and was brought for treatment on Aug 6 but died the next day.

She was admitted because she was having breathing problems but was not given anti-viral treatment although a throat swab was taken on Aug 6, he said.

- Bernama