With the first confirmed case of A/H1N1 flu reported in Tokyo as well as new cases detected in Osaka, Hyogo and Shiga prefectures, Japan's new flu patients amounted to 266 on Wednesday.

The patient, a 16-year-old high school girl in Hachioji, western Tokyo, has visited the United States, Kyodo News reported, citing officials of the metropolitan government.

With the rapid spread of the new flu, health authorities decided to step up anti-epidemic measures.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe said that all those suspected of being infected with the new flu will still be subject to detailed examinations, called polymerase chain reaction analysis.

In Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, the city government ordered that elementary and junior high schools as well as kindergartens that it runs be closed for seven days, and so did the Shiga prefectural government for all high schools that it runs.

Shiga Governor Yukiko Kada told reporters that the prefectural government will do everything to prevent a further spread of the flu.

In Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, more medical institutions joined the nine designated hospitals in treating people with fever, or potentially infected people.

In Osaka, Governor Toru Hashimoto said the government is deliberating whether to close all the schools in the prefecture.