Rajasthan recorded its first swine flu death Wednesday.

In Karnataka, three more swine flu deaths were reported, taking the toll due to the H1N1 virus in the state to 69.

All three victims died in Bangalore. While two died in government-run hospitals, one death was reported from a private hospital. All three died Sep 13. However, the report confirming that all three victims tested positive for the virus was received only Sep 15, a health official said.

Three people died of the H1N1 virus in Andhra Pradesh, taking the swine flu toll to 16 in the state. Two women died in the government-run Gandhi Hospital while a man succumbed at a private hospital here.

Rejecting the opposition's demand to declare a health emergency, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah said: 'We are attentive and have taken all necessary steps to control swine flu.'

As many as 12 people have died of swine flu in the state during last four days. A total of 319 people were found infected by H1N1.

The state government has already warned private hospitals of stringent action under the Public Health Act if they refuse treatment or guidance to suspected swine flu patients.

Health Principal Secretary L.V. Subrahmanyam said all necessary steps were being taken to check the spread of the disease. He said though the first swine flu case in India was detected at the Hyderabad airport May 16, no deaths were reported till Sep 2.