Brazil's Health Ministry confirmed two new cases of A/H1N1 flu in the country Friday afternoon, raising the total number of infected to 54.

According to the ministry, the patients are from the states of Bahia, in the northeastern region, and Sao Paulo, in the southeastern region.

Both were infected with the virus during international trips.

The confirmed cases in the country are spread over the states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, Minas Gerais, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul, and Bahia, as well as the Federal District.

Twelve of the 54 patients were infected with the flu in the Brazilian territory through direct contact with people infected abroad. The Health Ministry believes the domestic transmission is restricted, and the A/H1N1 flu virus is not circulating in the country.

The ministry said that there are 70 suspected cases of A/H1N1 flu in 11 states. Tests are being carried out to determine whether those patients are infected with the disease.

The World Health Organization Thursday declared a pandemic of A/H1N1 flu. The disease has so far infected almost 30,000 people in the world and killed a total of 145 in Mexico, Chile, Canada, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and the United States.

(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2009)