The number of swine flu fatalities in South Africa doubled since the weekend, the Star newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said there had been 5118 laboratory confirmed cases, with 18 being fatal.

The institute's deputy director, Dr Lucille Bloomberg, said this was not a sudden spate of swine flu related deaths but rather delays in confirming results and collating information from various private institutions.

At least half of victims were pregnant women and most of the cases were reported in Gauteng and the Western Cape.