Mexico City officials reported a much-improved A/H1N1 flu situation on Sunday with no new flu death, 22 people with symptoms leaving hospital after recovery, and seven new patients were hospitalized.

Seven "is the lowest number we have had since the Friday when we began alert measures to cope with the influenza in Mexico City," City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard told media.

"Twenty-two people are the largest number of people who have been released from hospital in Mexico City. The situation is clearly better."

There are now 84 people in the city's hospitals being treated for symptoms consistent with the new flu, which has now spread to 19 countries across the world.

Mexico City is the region worst hit by the new A/H1N1 strain of flu, called swine flu until the World Health Organization requested a name change, with 20 people dying of symptoms consistent A/H1N1, which include muscular pain, high fever, headaches and breathing problems.

Ebrard said that the city government would move from the current set of measures to a five-stage system, details of which he would announce on Monday. Current circumstances represent one of the highest alerts under the new system.

At present, Mexico City authorities have ordered to close the vast majority of places where people congregate, including public parks, theatres, cinemas, arts centers, bars, dancehalls, gymnasiums and swimming pools. Restaurants can open, but can only serve take-away food.

The whole of the nation's education institutions from nursery to university have been closed, effectively sending home around 33million people.

Ebrard urged citizens to continue with the measures to help check the spread of the disease for a week more. These include the use of face masks, frequent washing of hands, and avoiding greeting with handshakes or kisses.