Lucknow, March 9 (IANS): Over 40 new cases of swine flu were reported from across Uttar Pradesh since Saturday, health officials said on Monday.

Sixteen deaths were reported over the month and of the new cases, 31 were reported from the state capital alone.

Three cases have been reported from Bareilly, two from Unnao and one each from Amethi, Mau and Allahabad, an official told IANS.

Of the 916 cases reported in the state, 736 are from Lucknow alone.

Leaves of all health department officials, doctors and employees were cancelled due to the growing incidence of H1N1 infection.

A special drive to make people aware of the disease has been undertaken, officials added.

A prominent theatre artist from Agra died on Saturday of swine flu and a ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) legislator has also been hit by the virus. SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, suspected to be suffering from swine flu, was admitted to Medanta hospital in Gurgaon on Saturday.