Ravi, head of the neuro-virology department of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), will conduct a clinical audit.

'The experts will study in detail each swine flu death case in the state and find out the exact causes of each death. The study will throw light whether there was a delay in admission or treatment, and look into the clinical condition, among others,' T.S. Cheluvaraj, joint director of the health and family welfare department, told IANS.

Meanwhile, 17 more people tested positive for the influenza A (H1N1) virus in the state. Fourteen of them were in Bangalore, two in Bijapur and one in Mysore. So far, 587 people across Karnataka have tested positive for the virus.