Iran's swine flu toll reaches 650

Iranian health officials have reported 173 new confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu including three deaths during the past week, bringing the country's total toll to 649.

Head of the Iranian Health Ministry's Center for Disease Control Mohammad-Mehdi Gouya told Fars News Agency that the majority of the new cases to have tested positive for the virus are students; none, however, have died of the disease.

Gouya said the flu has already claimed the lives of some 10 individuals, adding that a pregnant woman, an 11-month old baby and a 3-year-old one were the new cases who died from the fatal virus.

He therefore urged parents to keep a child with flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough and sore throat at home until the symptoms are gone.

Health officials also stressed that adopting simple precautionary measures such as frequently washing hands, using a tissue to cover the mouth when coughing and sneezing and avoiding kissing can contain the virus.