Hong Kong health authorities reported two more deaths on Wednesday from the A/H1N1 flu, raising the city's death toll from the new flu virus to 18.

The Hospital Authority of Hong Kong released a statement confirming the deaths of two patients in separate local hospitals.

A patient staying at the United Christian Hospital was a 63-year-old woman who suffered from lung cancer. She initially showed flu symptoms on September 17 and was admitted to the hospital the following day. She tested positive for the A/H1N1 virus on the same day and she was given Tamiflu and antibiotics. However, the condition of the patient continued to deteriorate and she eventually passed away at around 5:25 a.m. on Wednesday.

The other patient is a 34-year-old man who suffered from ankylosing spondylitis, a disease involving the vertebral column. He started to show flu symptoms on September 18 and he was brought to Tuen Mun Hospital on the same day.

The patient was later confirmed infected by the A/H1N1 virus on September 20. He was given Tamiflu, Relenza and antibiotics and was placed on life support. However, his condition continued to deteriorate and he died at about 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday.