Brazil's Health Ministry confirmed on Wednesday 3 new cases of the A/H1N1 flu in the country, raising the total number of infected to 43.

According to the Ministry, the three new patients are from the states of Santa Catarina and Sao Paulo. The patient from Sao Paulo was infected during an international trip, while the other two from Santa Catarina were infected domestically.

Among the 43 patients, 11 were infected in Brazil. However, the Health Ministry stated that the domestic transmission is restricted in the country, as all the 11 patients had close contact with patients infected abroad.

Seven of the patients are under 18, while 22 are between 18 and 29 years old, and 14 are over 30.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the A/H1N1 flu has already killed 141 people worldwide. Over 27,700 people from 74 countries and regions have been infected.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2009)