Brazil's Health Ministry confirmed on Thursday afternoon four new cases of A/H1N1 flu, lifting the total number of the infection to 14 in the country.

Three of the new patients are from Sao Paulo state in Brazil's southeastern region, while the fourth is from Santa Catarina statein the country's southern region. All four caught the H1N1 flu virus during trips to the United States.

The 14 confirmed cases included six in Sao Paulo, four in Rio de Janeiro, two in Santa Catarina, one in Rio Grande do Sul and one in Minas Gerais.

Eight of the 14 infected patients have already been discharged.

Despite the fact that two of the infected caught the virus in Brazilian territory, the health ministry stressed that there is no reason to state that the H1N1 flu virus is circulating in the country.

The domestic transmission is so far restricted to those two cases, the ministry said.

There are currently 20 suspected cases of the H1N1 flu virus in Brazil, up from 16 on Wednesday, the ministry said.

In addition, 19 people in nine states are being monitored by the health authorities.

The number of discarded cases of "patients who were diagnosed with other diseases" reached 322, up from 315, on Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2009)