Britain's Department of Health confirmed on Thursday 25 new cases of the A/H1N1 flu infections, bringing the total in the country to 822.

The Department of Health statement said 25 confirmed cases were from England. The new total also included 47 cases in Scotland announced later on Wednesday by the Scottish government.

Testing of the H1N1 flu virus is now carried out by the Health Protection Agency's regional network of laboratories.

To date, 502 cases have been confirmed in England, 311 from Scotland, seven from Northern Ireland and two from Wales. What's more, the Health Protection Agency said 866 cases are currently under laboratory investigation in Britain.

The move by the World Health Organization to declared Phase 6 of its pandemic alert system on Thursday does not trigger any material change to Britain's response. Actions taken in the country "are based on the situation here and our preparations are well advanced," according to the Department of Health.

"The localized cases of swine flu found in the UK have so far experienced mild symptoms and make a rapid and full recovery, and the spread has been limited. However, a small minority have been more severe," said a statement from the department.

The Health Department is continuing to work to slow the spread of the disease. "The UK strategy of providing anti-virals for those who have developed the disease and their close contacts, and using school closures where appropriate has so far been effective in slowing the spread of the disease," said the statement.

Britain has been preparing for the possibility of a pandemic for a number of years and claims to be among the most prepared countries in the world.

"The preparations we have in place and are continuing to make will help to ensure we respond well," said the department.

(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2009)