A total of 14 people have died in influenza A/H1N1 related disease, New Zealand media reported on Thursday.

The latest fatalities have been two Auckland men, aged 28 and 39, and a 30-year-old Auckland woman, Radio New Zealand reported.

The office of chief coroner Neil MacLean said they were investigating the deaths of the three people who had the virus.

But the Ministry of Health said the official death rate from influenza A/H1N1 was 11. All who have died had underlying health conditions.

New Zealand's influenza A/H1N1 confirmed cases rose to 2,525 on Thursday, up 48 from 2,477 on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health said.

However, the Ministry of Health said the actual number of cases would be significantly higher, as only a small proportion of people with symptoms were being tested.

Director of Public Health Mark Jacobs said on Thursday the influenza A/H1N1 pandemic is still likely to be in its early days and continued vigilance was important.

"It is likely that by the end of the pandemic, many New Zealanders will have caught it at some point. The disease continues to be mild to moderate for the vast majority of New Zealanders infected, though some people are experiencing more severe illness," according to Jacobs.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2009)