**Twenty-nine people have now died in the UK after contracting swine flu, the government has announced.**There have been 26 deaths in England and three in Scotland, said a Department of Health spokeswoman.
On Monday the number of reported deaths stood at 17. Officials estimated there were 55,000 new cases last week.
A Wiltshire patient who tested positive for swine flu has died in Swindon. The third victim in Scotland, a female tourist, died on Wednesday.
The woman - who suffered underlying health problems - died after being admitted to hospital in Inverness three weeks ago, said Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon.
The BBC’s medical correspondent, Fergus Walsh, says the jump in the number of deaths is to be expected, given the huge leap in the number of cases.
Given the sheer number of cases, it is certain there will be more deaths, he says.
But for most flu patients the symptoms remain mild.