Australian Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon announced the country had 3,199 officially confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu as of Thursday afternoon.

In an update to reporters, Roxon said 168 of those people had been hospitalized, with 36 still in hospital and 13 in intensive care.

"Those who have been in hospital mostly have been people with existing conditions," she said.

Three Australians have died from A/H1N1 flu -- one in South Australia and two in Victoria.

Roxon said Chief Medical Officer Jim Bishop had released guidelines for the treatment of indigenous Australians, who might be particularly susceptible.

The government was deploying anti-viral medication to rural and remote areas to treat indigenous Australians, if necessary.

In general, the use of anti-viral medication would be decided on a case-by-case basis.

(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2009)