Vietnam recorded 104 new cases of the influenza A (H1N1) virus Friday, the highest number of infections on a single day to date, the Ministry of Health reported.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, the nation’s total flu tally was 1,847.

The 661 infected people still quarantined in local hospitals and medical clinics were in stable condition, the ministry said. Two patients have died so far and the remaining have been fully cured.

Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Health said Friday the city had found ten outbreaks of the flu in its high schools.

Meanwhile, all schools in Binh Dinh Province’s Quy Nhon Town were closed Friday until August 31 as the flu was detected in several schools with eight students testing positive for the virus.

Currently, the ministry’s facilities nationwide still have adequate capacity to offer treatment to the infected people, so it does not encourage people to treat the flu at home.

Trinh Quan Huan, Deputy Minister of Health, said the flu had been found in more than 40 provinces and cities nationwide, and it is likely that it would spread more widely in the upcoming winter and spring seasons.

In order to meet with the increasing demand for H1N1 tests, the ministry will check and identify qualified laboratories nationwide, he said.

The ministry is also planning to buy more medicines and materials needed for the tests, he added.

Reported by Thanh Nien staff