Britain's Department of Health confirmed on Wednesday 18 new cases of A/H1N1 flu infections, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 381.

The Department of Health statement said all the 18 new cases were from England. The new total of 381 cases included 23 cases in Scotland announced Tuesday by the Scottish Executive and one in Northern Ireland announced by the Northern Ireland Executive.

Testing of the swine flu virus is now carried out by the Health Protection Agency's regional network of laboratories.

To date, 313 cases have been confirmed in England, 65 from Scotland, two from Northern Ireland and one from Wales.

"The localized cases of swine flu found in the UK have so far been mild, and we have not seen evidence of widespread community transmission," said a spokesperson from the Health Department.

"Our strategy to slow the spread of the disease appears to have been effective, and the UK's arrangements continue to ensure that we are well-placed to deal with this new infection," added the spokesperson.

The Health Department pledged to be prepared for the possibility of a global pandemic.

What's more, according to the Health Protection Agency, 297 cases are currently under laboratory investigation in Britain.

(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2009)