Eights more people have died of H1N1 flu, reported Egypt's health ministry on Saturday, raising the death toll to 52 cases since December.

According to health ministry media consultant Ahmed Kamel, 182 cases of swine flu have been confirmed since Tuesday, and eight of those have been fatal.

Kamel said that all cases are sent to the health ministry's central labs and the labs of the World Health Organisation for inspection.

The health ministry, the official said, will release biweekly updates every Saturday and Tuesday.

Kamel said that pregnant women, people over the age of 65, children under the age of two, people with respiratory problems and people with diabetes, are particularly vulnerable and should take precautions. These groups need to see a doctor immediately if they suffer from a high temperature, throat pain or a cough.