The Chilean Health Ministry on Monday reported eight new cases of A/H1N1 flu, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 82 in the country, the largest number in South America.

Among the new cases, a 32-year-old woman is in grave condition and is being treated at the health center of Santiago.

The ministry said it will change the strategy to curb the flu virus in Santiago's schools.

The new strategy will use anti-viral treatment on the confirmed cases and their direct relatives, who must stay at their homes for two days to avoid more infections.

According to the new measure, the classmates of the infected students will not be treated, because a massive treatment could raise the resistance of the virus to the anti-viral treatment, the ministry said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2009)