Thailand's Public Health Ministry on Thursday announced 83 more patients, who are confirmed to have infected with the A/H1N1 flu virus, bringing the country's total number to 1,556.

Of the total, some 28 patients have remained in hospitals, the website by the Bangkok Post reported.

In a related development, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government has given priority to containing the outbreak of A/H1N1 flu.

The Health Ministry is working closely with the World Health Organization and seeking further ways to deal with the outbreak.

An imported vaccine against the H1N1 virus is expected to be available around September or October, while the supply of antiviral medicine is adequate and more could be easily produced, he said.

People should not panic as the outbreak may also hurt the economy, the prime minister warned.

Thailand's death toll from the deadly new virus has remained at five since June 27, including two deaths on Wednesday in Bangkok and a central province of Chonburi, next to capital Bangkok.

The country had its first two confirmed patients on May 12, and according to the World Health Organization.

(Xinhua News Agency July 2, 2009)