Iraq announced four new cases of A/H1N1 flu which have been detected among the Multi-National forces in the country, raising the total number of cases infected by the disease to 20, an official Iraqi newspaper reported on Wednesday.

"We have registered four new cases of A/H1N1 among the Multi-National forces in Iraq, bringing the total number of the disease cases registered till now to 20," the state-run newspaper al-Sabah quoted spokesman of the Iraqi Health Ministry Ihsan Jaafar as saying.

All the infected people have come from abroad, not inside Iraq, Jaafar said, adding that the 20 detected cases are divided into nine among the Multi-National forces in Iraq and 11 Iraqis.

Earlier, Jaafar said that officials from the Health Ministry are monitoring the border points and airports to check those who enter the country.

He said hospitals in the country remain on stand-by to deal with any suspicious cases.

Iraq announced its first six cases of A/H1N1 flu in the country's northern Kurdish region on June 24.

A/H1N1 influenza is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease with symptoms generally include upper respiratory problems, but the air-borne illness can cause severe pneumonia and death.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2009)