Thailand's Ministry of Public Health on June 16 confirmed 109 new influenza A/H1N1 cases, raising the country’s total number to 310, the Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

Deputy Minister of Public Health Manit Nopamornbodhi urged the public not to over-react to the rising number of new infections. He said the number of H1N1 cases is still much less than that of normal flu patients, estimated at about 17,400 cases in 2008.

“The Public Health Ministry has discussed with related-agencies laying out preventive measures and treatment. Not all H1N1 patients need special medication, but another level of treatment will be provided to risk-group patients,” the Deputy Minister was quoted as saying.

Deputy Minister Manit added that the ministry will distribute 1 million handbooks with instructions for the public to protect themselves from the new virus to Thai people across the nation in the next few days.

Earlier, 11 schools in Bangkok and nearby provinces suspended classes in response to reports that 60 students had contracted influenza A/H1N1, according to TNA.

Thailand reported its first case of H1N1 flu on May 12 and its first domestic case in early June but there have been no fatalities./.