Mexico swine flu toll rises to 22

MEXICO CITY - The new variant of influenza A/H1N1, more commonly known as swine flu, has killed 22 people in Mexico, with 1,523 confirmed cases, Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos said late Sunday.

Cordova Villalobos said the last victim of the new virus died Wednesday. Fifteen of the dead were women, while seven were men, he said.

On Saturday, the minister confirmed 19 deaths and 1,303 infections, and noted that most of the victims were aged between 20 and 40 years.

His announcement followed earlier warnings that the toll could rise as more tests are carried out on the 159 people who have died recently in Mexico of the flu.

Mexico is the epicentre of the global flu outbreak, which is caused by a new strain that has genetic elements that come from three species - pigs, birds and human beings.