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ANKARA: The death toll from H1N1 flu in Turkey more than doubled in less than 24 hours to reach nine on Monday, as hospitals began vaccinating medical workers, the health ministry said.
The latest victims of the H1N1 virus were a 65-year-old woman, who died in Ankara, and two girls, aged 13 and four, who died in Istanbul and the southeastern city of Sanlurfa, the ministry said.
Overnight a 22-month-old baby and a 14-year-old boy died overnight in Konya, central Turkey, according to health officials.
Around 10 patients remained in a serious condition in intensive care in the country's medical facilities, the ministry added.
The first victim of H1N1 flu in Turkey died on October 24.
Along with medical workers, people who will travel to Mecca for the hajj pilgrimage were given priority as the vaccination campaign kicked off on Monday, Anatolia news agency reported.
Health Minister Recep Akdag, who has lashed out at experts casting doubt on the efficiency and safety of the H1N1 flu vaccine, was also to get an injection on Tuesday, the ministry said.
The vaccination campaign will also include groups deemed at risk such as young children, pregnant women, and those who suffer from diabetes and heart conditions.
Turkey received the first batch of 500,000 doses of the vaccine against the virus last month.
It plans to buy a total of 43 million doses and vaccinate 28 million people.
Ankara has reported some 1,870 cases of H1N1 flu since the disease was first diagnosed in the country in May.
More than 5,700 people have died of H1N1 flu worldwide since it was first uncovered in April, with most of the deaths recorded in the Americas, according to the World Health Organisation. - AFP/de
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