BUENOS AIRES - Argentine health authorities reported Tuesday seven more deaths to swine flu, raising the total to 17 since the epidemic began in April.

The Health Ministry provided no details on the deaths except to say that of the total, four occurred in the city of Buenos Aires and the remainder in the province of Buenos Aires.

With the southern hemisphere now in winter, the A(H1N1) virus has spread more broadly in Argentina and neighboring Chile than in most parts of Latin America, making it a closely watched harbinger of the flu season to come in the northern hemisphere.

The Health Ministry reported 1,294 confirmed swine flu cases, and said 967 other cases were being tested for the A(H1N1) virus.

All but emergency surgeries have been postponed in the Buenos Aires province to keep hospital beds open in case the epidemic worsens, health authorities said.