Australia reported the fourth death related to influenza A/H1N1 in the country Friday while the number of confirmed cases in Thailand soared to 1,132.

The death of a 71-year-old Melbourne woman was notified to Australian health department late Thursday night, Victoria's acting chief health officer Rosemary Lester said.

Lester said A/H1N1 flu is generally mild, but can affect those with pre-existing medical conditions.

"It is important to remember that in the vast majority of cases,A/H1N1 flu is a mild illness which many people recover from without any medical treatment," she said in a statement.

"However, we know that for people with chronic medical conditions, influenza can be severe."

Thailand's Public Health Ministry on Friday announced 78 more patients, who are confirmed to have infected with the A/H1N1 flu virus, bringing the country's total number to 1,132.

Some 1,110 patients have already recovered, while the 22 others are still in hospitals, said Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai, the website by Thai language newspaper Krungthep Turakij reported.

Philippine health authorities reported 134 more cases of Influenza A/H1N1 on Friday, pushing the country's total to 861.

However, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said that all the newly-confirmed patients were "responding positively to their treatments." A total of 634 patients -- or 74 percent of the total-- have fully recovered since May 21, he added.

The new cases involved 60 males and 74 females, said the health chief. One hundred eighteen of the patients are Filipinos, and the remaining are foreigners.

Twenty of these cases have a history of travel to a country affected by the novel virus, he added.

Malaysia reported 14 new cases of A/H1N1 flu on Friday, bringing up the total figure to 105.

The Malaysian Health Ministry said that the new cases involved one locally transmitted patient, while the other 13 involved people coming from Melbourne in Australia, London in Britain, Phuket in Thailand, Manila in Philippines, Istanbul in Turkey, and Singapore.

Brunei confirmed seven new cases of A/H1N1 flu on Thursday, bringing up the total figure to 18.

According to Brunei newspapers on Friday, the seven patients included two imported cases involved a six-year-old boy who returned to Brunei from Kuala Lumpur, and a 20-year-old foreigner who arrived in Brunei from London in Britain, via Kuala Lumpur.

The remaining five patients were locally transmitted cases, aged between 15 to 23 years old.

Singapore confirmed 50 new cases of Influenza A/H1N1 on Friday, bringing the total tally to 365 confirmed cases.

According to Singapore's Health Ministry, in addition to these 50 new cases, 48 other cases were pending investigation on Thursday.

The ministry said that with more local cases of infection appearing, it is important for all people to exercise good hygiene practices and be socially responsible.

Singapore reported its first confirmed case of Influenza A/H1N1on May 27.

A spokesman for Hong Kong Department of Health said there had been 90 newly confirmed cases of A/H1N1 influenza in the 24 hours to 2:30 PM (0630 GMT) on Friday.

This brings to 596 the total number of A/H1N1 influenza cases in Hong Kong, the spokesman said.

The new cases involve 52 males and 38 females, aged between 6 and 70, said the spokesman.

The cumulative number of Macao's confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 rose to 15, as two new cases were confirmed here on Friday.

(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2009)