The Chilean Institute of Public Health (ISP) reported Friday that the country's A/H1N1 influenza death toll rose to 79.

The latest ISP report said the total of infected patients in the country reached 11,641, of which 8,171 received private assistance and 3,470 were treated by the public sector.

The report said there was an important reduction in the number of cases last week, adding that only the regions of Arica, Parinacota and Valparaiso continued showing an upward trend.

Chile's Public Health Ministry announced on June 2 its first case of death from A/H1N1 flu, becoming the fifth country in the world, after the

United States, Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica, to report a flu death.

According to the ministry, it has bought 600,000 units of anti-viral medicine, enough for 1.5 million doses.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2009)