New Delhi, India (BBN)- India confirmed 23 more cases of the deadly Influenza A (H1N1) virus on Wednesday, taking the total cases to 498, health officials said.

Of the 23 new cases that tested positive for swine flu, 11 from came from Pune, five from New Delhi, two from Cochin and one each from Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Roorkee and Calicut, according to a health ministry press statement.

So far, 2252 people have been tested, of which 498 are positive for Influenza A (H1N1), 481out of the 2252 tested have been identified through entry screening, 351 people through contact tracing and the rest were self reported, the statement added.

“Of the 498 positive cases, 273 have been discharged,” the ministry said, adding that rests of them remain admitted.

BBN/SS/SI/AD-30July09-10:01 am (BST)