Brazil's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that 17 new cases of A/H1N1 flu have been confirmed in the country, bringing the national total to 96.

Seven of the newly-confirmed cases were from the state of Sao Paulo, five from Santa Catarina, three from Minas Gerais and two from Rio de Janeiro. According to the Ministry, all patients are now in good condition.

The Sao Paulo state has the largest number of confirmed cases (34), followed by Santa Catarina (24), Minas Gerais (14), and Rio de Janeiro (13).

Brazilian Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao has expressed concern over the possibility of the number of A/H1N1 flu infections further increasing with the beginning of winter next Sunday. According to the minister, low temperatures may add impetus to the circulation of the influenza viruses.

"It is in this season, with the lower temperatures, that people go out less, stay more in closed spaces," he added.

The Health Ministry said that there are also 80 suspected cases of A/H1N1 flu in the country.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), A/H1N1 flu has already killed 165 people around the world. The number of confirmed cases worldwide has surpassed 37,000.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2009)