New Delhi, Aug 26 - Nine more people succumbed to influenza A (H1N1) virus Wednesday, taking the total number of swine flu deaths in the country since Aug 3 to 75.

Five of the latest deaths took place in Maharashtra, the worst hit state, while Karnataka and Uttarakhand accounted for three and one deaths respectively, the health ministry said here.

At least 177 people also tested positive for the contagious virus.

Though details of the deaths from Karnataka and Uttarakhand are not known, the dead in Maharashtra included a 28-year-old businessman in Mumbai and a 35-year-old woman in Pune, the city which has seen most fatalities.

Sandeep Gaikwad died of swine flu at the Hiranandani Hospital in Mumbai, said an official.

Gaikwad was hospitalised three weeks ago in serious condition. Despite the long treatment, the resident of Kandivli suburb in northwest Mumbai passed away early Wednesday.

Of the total deaths since the first death took place in Pune Aug 3, 41 people have died in Maharashtra, 19 in Karnataka, seven in Gujarat, three each in Delhi and Tamil Nadu and one each in Uttarakhand and Kerala.

At least 34 people, who have tested positive for swine flu, are being treated in hospitals, according to the Mumbai Disaster Control Room. In Pune, a 35-year-old woman died at the Sassoon Hospital.

Shabana Quadir Shaikh was admitted to the hospital four days ago, the State Swine Flu Control Room said.