Fiji recorded eight new cases of influenza A/H1N1 on Wednesday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 19.

Five cases are from the capital of Suva, while the other three were from the West with two in Nadi and one from Lautoka, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.

The cases include six children under seven years old that are in the most risk category.

Fiji's health officials confirmed no patients have been hospitalized while 211 tests have been received at the national testing facility at Mataika House in Suva.

Of the first 10 confirmed, four have been given the all clear by the medical authorities and are able to move out of quarantine.

Visitors who have been part of the 19 will be given a medical certificate, allowing them to fly back home.

Local Public Health authorities were working closely with all stakeholders to ensure the traveling public is able to protect itself and minimize spread of virus to healthy individuals.

Health Ministry spokesman Iliesa Tora said although the figures continue to rise, members of the public should not be alarmed but take precautionary measures that have been sent out.

It was earlier predicted that one third of Fiji's 800,000 populations would be infected while there was enough Tamil flu to cater for 2 percent of the population.

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2009)