The number of Macao's confirmed cases of A/H1N1 reached 42, as eight newly confirmed cases were reported on Thursday by the Health Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

The newly confirmed cases included a 19-year-old local post boy who was infected by his brother who previously tested positive for the virus, according to the Health Bureau. The boy's brother was also infected by another patient.

In addition, a local primary student who has been to Greece recently, an Australian woman who checked into a local hotel, and two local residents were among the newly confirmed patients.

Aside from the newly confirmed cases, 124 persons who had close contact with the patients were put under medical observation.

Given the number of A/H1N1 confirmed cases were on the rise, local authorities has beefed up the prevention measures at the SAR's border checkpoints, requiring double-checking of visitors' body temperatures. The Health Bureau has also said that it will opt to suspend classes at all local primary and secondary schools and kindergartens, once the spreading of the epidemic extends deeper into local communities.

(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2009)