The death toll from the H1N1 virus, or the swine flu, has risen to five nationwide in January, Georgia's National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) said on Friday.

In addition, another person was killed by the mutated flu virus H3N2, the NCDC said.

Among the H1N1 virus-related deaths, one was reported in the capital city of Tbilisi and another one in Adjara, an autonomous republic in southwest Georgia bordering Turkey.

The level of flu activity has increased, but it remains below the "epidemic threshold," the NCDC said.

The number of public schools closed to prevent spread of the flu virus has increased to 267.

Public kindergartens in Tbilisi have also been closed at least till next Monday for the same reason.

Georgia reported the first death from the H1N1 virus this year on Jan. 17. During the flu season between 2010 and 2011, the virus claimed 33 lives and infected 1,800 people in the country. Endi

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