The Philippine health chief on Sunday said 339 out of the 428 patients infected with the A/H1N1 influenza virus in the country since May 21 have recovered.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the recovery percentage of the A/H1N1 flu cases in the country now rises to 79 percent.

He also reported that 36 new cases, all exhibiting mild symptoms, were found in the past 24 hours and only six of them had a history of travel from countries affected by the pandemic flu, which indicates that the majority of the Filipino cases are not imported.

Duque continued to remind the public that the simplest ways to avoid getting the flu are to wash hands thoroughly and to cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, respectively.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2009)