MANILA - Thirty-three new cases of influenza A (H1N1) were confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday bringing the country's total number of victims of the virus to 344, as the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts the virus will be active for three more months.

Of the new H1N1 patients, 24 are male and 9 are female, and 31 are Filipino nationals, Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

The new patients' ages range from one year to 52 years old, Villaverde said.

He also said that out of the total number of cases so far, 242 patients have fully recovered from the illness, 142 of whom recovered only recently.

Despite the large number of patients who have recovered from the illness, the DOH again reminded the public to observe proper hygiene to prevent the spread of the disease.

Despite the spread of the virus, the DOH won't be requesting for additional funds to combat the spread of the illness.

Villaverde said around 50 to 60 percent of the P93.5 million budget for anti-H1N1 measures have so far been used, and he said the remaining funds are enough.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita also said the informaton campaign on the illness will continue in order to keep the public informed.

The DOH's National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDPC) said that, according to the WHO, the spread of the illness is seen to linger for more or less three more months.

No fears of new Brazil strain

Meanwhile, the DOH said the public should not be alarmed by the new H1N1 strain discovered by scientists in Brazil, saying the virus's protein component is similar to the current virus's.

Villaverde said the current illness is similar to common flu, but said they are not discounting the fact it could mutate to a more virulent strain.

He also said there has been no reported case yet of H1N1 patients needing blood transfusions, but said they are in close coordination with the DOH to keep the blood supply high.

Despite this, Villaverde said the department has advised President Arroyo and her party to be careful during her trip to Brazil, after scientists discovered a new strain of the H1N1 virus.

Jaen outbreak 'contained'

The DOH also said that the community outbreak reported in three barangays in Jaen, Nueva Ecija has been "contained" after no new cases have been reported during the past 24 to 48 hours.

However, the source of the outbreak in the town has not yet been traced.

Dr. Lyndon Leesuy, medical specialist at the NCDPC, said they already have leads regarding the origin of the outbreak, but they are still unsure.

Leesuy said they have to establish that there was no prior circulation of the virus before they could call the outbreak a "closed case."

In their latest report dated June 15, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 35,928 cases and 163 deaths from 76 reporting countries. With reports from Jing Castañeda, RG Cruz, and Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News