Swine flu outbreak leaves 112 dead in Iran

An outbreak of the H1N1 swine flu virus in Iran has left 112 people dead since mid-November, including one medical worker, AFP reported Iranian media as saying.

"About 1,190 people have been diagnosed with the (H1N1) virus and hospitalized" and "the death toll has reached 112," a health ministry official told state news agancy IRNA.

"Vaccines and laboratory equipment for diagnosis are available around the clock across the country," Mohammad Mehdi Gouya, the head of the ministry's communicable diseases department, said.

Gouya added the outbreak was "under control" and the number of new cases was expected to diminish "in the coming days."

While the majority of deaths were recorded in southeastern Iran, many other provinces across the country reported isolated fatalities.

According to Mehr news agency, a nurse died Sunday after contracting the virus while treating patients northeastern town of Neyshabour.