The Uruguayan Public Health Ministry on Monday reported four new cases of A/H1N1 flu, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 15.

All the patients had contact with people who had already been infected by the virus or had traveled abroad, Health Minister Maria Julia Munoz said.

"We have confirmed 15 cases since Wednesday, every day we test 15 to 20 samples," Munoz said after a cabinet meeting on Monday.

The patients are now at home receiving medical treatment and are recovering, she said.

Besides the confirmed cases, more than 30 other people are currently under observation for having flu symptoms, she added.

Uruguay confirmed its first two A/H1N1 cases on May 27.

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2009)