Health officials have announced that swine flu has already claimed the lives of 33 Iranians, bringing the national tally to 2,153.

According to Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, 515 new confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported in the country in the past week, adding that the infection rate has increased to 2,153.

In the same period, 11 individuals have also died due to the A/H1N1 flu, Mehr news agency reported on Wednesday.

Earlier, Deputy Health Minister Hassan Emami-Razavi said the Iranian government had allocated some $20 million to order two million doses of the A/H1N1 flu vaccine to immunize one million individuals.

He also stressed that pregnant women, seniors and those suffering from chronic diseases including asthma, heart diseases, diabetes and cancer along with healthcare workers are the first priorities to receive the vaccine.

Meanwhile, Iran ordered the closure of hundreds of schools in the country as a precaution against the spread of the A/H1N1 flu among students.

Iranian authorities had earlier cancelled the Umrah (minor hajj pilgrimage) in the holy month of Ramadan with the aim of containing the A/H1N1 virus.

Authorities urged individuals intending to participate in the major hajj to adopt simple precautionary measures such as washing hands several times a day and avoiding close contact with others.

They added that making healthy food choices and drinking enough water with the aim of boosting one's immune system could help in stopping the spread of the virus.

HRF/SC/PKH