US swine flu deaths top 4000

Swine flu kills nearly 4000 in US

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US health officials say that 4000 or more Americans are likely to have died from swine flu - about four times the estimate they've been using.

The new, higher figure was first reported by The New York Times. It includes deaths caused by complications related to swine flu, including pneumonia and bacterial infections.

Until now, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention had conservatively put the US swine flu death count at more than 1000. Officials said this week they're working on an even more accurate calculation.

The CDC says "many millions" of Americans have caught the pandemic flu virus since it first appeared in April.

- AP