New Delhi, Oct 20 : Five swine flu deaths were reported in India Tuesday, taking the toll due to Influenza A (H1N1) virus to 420, health authorities said here.

Also, 89 new cases were reported in the country, taking the total number of people affected with the flu to 12,969.

All the deaths had occurred earlier, but the laboratory confirmations of the viral infections came Tuesday, officials said.

Of the five deaths, two occurred in Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. With this the toll due to the virus in the state has touched 44.

In Maharashtra's Nashik area, one person died, taking the total toll in the state to 179 - the highest in the country.

One death was also reported from Noida in Uttar Pradesh, which borders Delhi. So far, three people have died due to the virus in the state.

"Till date, samples from 68,529 people have been tested for the Influenza A (H1N1) in government laboratories and a few private laboratories across the country, and
12,969 of them have been found positive," a statement issued here said.

Of the 89 new cases, 31 were from Maharashtra, which reports the maximum deaths and cases in the country.

In Kerala, 19 people have been tested positive for the contagious virus, followed by Delhi where 14 people were detected with the flu.(IANS)