Russia's swine flu death toll climbs to five

According to RIA Novosti, a woman has died of swine flu in the Siberian Krasnoyarsk region, bringing Russia's death toll in the pandemic to five people, the regional health minister said on October 29.

"A 39-year-old woman has fallen victim to the flu pandemic. She was taken to hospital in critical condition on Wednesday. Doctors were unable to save her," Vadim Yanin said.

Three fatalities from the virus were reported in the east Siberian city of Chita and one in MOSCOW on October 27.

The first swine flu victims in Russia were women aged 29 and 39. The younger woman was eight months pregnant, and doctors were unable to save the baby, local officials said.

About 1,900 swine flu cases have so far been confirmed in Russia. Top epidemiologist Gennady Onishchenko said the swine flu cases began growing considerably in October, traditionally the time for a seasonal flu outbreak.

The country plans to start a swine flu vaccination program in December. Ten million people - medical staff, employees at electric power and water treatment plants and other facilities - will be initially inoculated against the flu. Another 30 million will be vaccinated if the virus spreads.