A total of 12 new A/H1N1 flu cases were confirmed in European countries within the last 24 hours, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said on Monday.

Eight new cases were reported in Britain, two in Norway and one each in France and Sweden, the ECDC said in its daily situation report, adding that the first two reported cases in Norway were both travel-related.

In all, the number of confirmed cases of the virus in the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries rose to 196, with 95 in Spain, 55 in Britain, 13 in France and 11 in Germany, the ECDC said.

In the whole region, probable flu cases have currently increased to 12, 11 in Britain and one in France, the European health agency added.

The ECDC publishes a daily situation report about A/H1N1 flu cases in the EU and EFTA countries based on official information from these countries.

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2009)