Kolkata, Aug 17 - Five people tested positive for the Influenza A(H1N1) virus here Monday, taking the total number of swine flu cases to 44 in West Bengal, a health official said.

'Five people have tested positive today (Monday), raising the tally to 44 in the state so far. They have been admitted to Beliaghata Infectious Disease (ID) Hospital,' Tapas Sen, the state's nodal officer for swine flu, told IANS.

The state has not reported any death from the virus so far.

'Presently, a total of 23 swine flu patients -- 15 patients at Beliaghata ID Hospital and eight at M.R. Bangur Hospital -- are admitted in state-run healthcare units with H1N1 infection,' he said.

With only two designated swine flu hospitals in the city almost packed to capacity, the state health department also plans to open isolation wards at one more hospital in the satellite township of Salt Lake.