Forty-seven people had died from swine flu in South Africa by Monday, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases said on Tuesday.

There had also been 11 253 laboratory confirmed cases of the illness caused by the A H1N1 virus.

Of the people who died, 20 were pregnant women, five of whom were HIV positive.

Underlying conditions identified for the 27 other people included obesity and diabetes, which accounted for most of the fatalities, followed by HIV/Aids and hypertension.

"In the majority of persons without any underlying conditions the illness remains mild and self-limiting," the institute said.

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