Rome, 3 Nov.(AKI) - A 37-year-old man has died in the southern city of Salerno becoming the latest Italian victim of the H1N1 virus widely known as swine flu. With the death toll in Italy now at 18, the deputy health minister, Ferrucio Fazio, on Tuesday appealed to the public to remain calm and to avoid crowding the country's hospital emergency rooms.

Ferdinando Lettieri, a musician, died at the San Giovanni di Dio and Ruggi D'Aragona hospital in Salerno, south of Naples on Tuesday after contracting pneumonia.

He had also suffered from renal problems despite having a kidney transplant two years ago.

Doctors said when his condition worsened he was transferred to the intensive care department where he died early Tuesday.

He was reportedly the ninth victim to have died from the virus in the region of Campania, which surrounds the city of Naples.

Fazio and medical authorities are trying to stop widespread panic in Italy amid reports of more cases of the disease.

"Do not crowd the hospitals," said Fazio. "Vaccinate pregnant women."

Meanwhile, tests on the 11-year- old girl from Pompeii who was thought to have died in hospital from the H1N1 virus have proven to be negative.

The analysis conducted by the virology deparment at Rome's Policlinico Gemelli hospital showed that the girl did not die from the virus.

Fazio told the media that by December vaccines will be available for small children.