New Zealand's confirmed deaths from A/H1N1 flu remained at six on Friday, while the total number of confirmed cases rose to 1555, up from 1431 on Thursday, the Ministry of Health said.

Hospitals throughout New Zealand were restricting visitors as cases of Influenza A/H1N1 and seasonal flu continue to rise.

Middlemore hospital in South Auckland, one of the country's biggest, has begun restricting visitors to help protect patients and the community from increasing flu-related illness.

Dunedin hospital in South Island is already enforcing visiting hours to reduce opportunities for people to bring flu into hospital and Hawke's Bay will begin this on Monday.

Wellington Hospital -- which is at full capacity -- said anyone who visits with flu symptoms is being asked to leave.

The Ministry of Health is advising anyone who has underlying medical conditions and who gets seasonal or influenza A/H1N1 to monitor their condition carefully.

(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2009)