New Delhi, Nov 26 : Eighty-two new swine flu cases were confirmed here Thursday, taking the total number of people affected by the influenza A (H1N1) virus in the national capital to 4,593, health officials said.

"There were 82 new cases of swine flu confirmed in Delhi today (Thursday). Of these, 63 are children. The cummulative now stands at 4,593 cases," Debashish Bhattacharya, state nodal officer for swine flu cases, told IANS.

Almost half - 2,603 - of those affected by the contangious disease are children, the official added.

There was a spurt in swine flu cases here earlier this month when the national capital began reporting the maximum number of swine flu cases.

"Although the World Health Organisation has not given any directive that swine flu infections would rise with the onset of winter, with the exposure to the cold, especially of the upper respiratory passage or chest, chances of infection are greater," the official pointed out.

Bhattacharya added that the reason for the high number of cases was partly because of the "high migrational population" to Delhi as well as the high rate of detection. (IANS)