Bangalore, Oct 6  The swine flu toll in Karnataka has touched 100 after one more person succumbed to the HIN1 virus, a health official said here Tuesday.

The latest victim of swine flu was a 31-year-old woman who died at a private hospital in Bangalore Oct 2. She was under observation at the hospital since Sep 15.

The report confirming that she tested positive for the virus was, however, received Oct 5, a health official said.

Out of the 100 swine flu death reports in Karnataka, 67 were registered in Bangalore and the rest from other parts of the state.

Health experts have urged people to maintain personal hygiene, an essential step in preventing the spread of the disease.

"Personal hygiene is a must, as there is fear that the winter season might further increase the spread of the H1N1 virus. Basic steps like washing hands with an anti-germ solution or soap, before and after eating food is a simple way to protect oneself from swine flu," principal secretary for health I. R. Perumal told IANS.

"People should immediately check with doctors, if they have any swine flu like symptoms. According to our observation of death cases due to H1N1 virus, we've found that delay in treatment of the disease and administration of Tamiflu are the primary reasons behind Karnataka's death toll," added Perumal.

On Monday, 16 patients tested positive for the H1N1 virus in the state.

Of these, 11 were reported in Bangalore and five in Gulbarga. With this the total number of positive cases in the state has reached 1,086. (dpa)