First swine flu fatality in Moscow brings Russia death toll to 4

Earlier on Tuesday, citing local health authorities, the ministry reported three fatal cases in Russia, all in the eastern Siberian Transbaikal region on the border with China.

"We have just received this report [of a death] from the Moscow health department," a ministry official said.

Two of the victims who died earlier were a 29-year-old pregnant woman and a 50-year-old woman. Doctors were unable to save the pregnant woman's baby, authorities said.

A total of 1,349 swine flu cases were confirmed across Russia as of October 27. The outbreak of the new strain of the influenza was first reported in Mexico in April 2009 and has since spread worldwide.

Russia plans to start a swine flu vaccination program in December. Ten million people - medical staff, employees at electric power and water treatment plants and other facilities - will be initially inoculated against the flu. Another 30 million will be vaccinated if the virus spreads, Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.