Brazil's Health Ministry confirmed on Wednesday 65 new cases of A/H1N1 flu, bringing the country's total number of infections to 399.
The ministry said there were 26 new cases in Sao Paulo state, 10 in Minas Gerais, nine in Rio Grande do Sul, four in Parana, four in Santa Catarina, three in Rio de Janeiro, three in Sergipe, two in Alagoas, two in Paraiba, one in Bahia and one in Pernambuco state.
The number of A/H1N1 flu cases in the country has quadrupled over the past week. The increase has already caused the suspension of classes across Brazil.
In Sao Paulo state, at least 8,000 students from nine schools had their classes suspended until further notice. The Sao Paulo State University also decided to suspend classes in one of its campuses after two students were diagnosed with A/H1N1 flu.
In Minas Gerais state, a school suspended classes after A/H1N1 flu was detected in a teacher and 11 students.
The sharp increase has already caused schools in several Brazilian states to bring forward the winter vacations, which usually take place in late July. One of Rio's most traditional private schools has decided to anticipate the winter vacations of their 4,900 students.
Some companies have taken precautions to avoid contagion. Brazil's mining giant Vale put 90 workers in isolation after one employee was diagnosed with A/H1N1 flu.
The ministry also informed that there are 310 suspected cases of A/H1N1 flu in Brazil. The number of discarded cases reached 677.
(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2009)
