HANOI, Feb. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Vietnam detected 109 cases of flu type A infections and suspects in 22 localities by Tuesday afternoon, of whom 23 died.

    The capital city of Hanoi has the highest number of patients, 34,followed by its neighboring province of Ha Tay with 15 and Ho Chi Minh City with 13, local newspaper Youth quoted sources from the Ministry of Health on Tuesday.

    The country's hospitals are treating 70 flu type A infections and suspects, including 19 cases in the National Hospital of Pediatrics and 13 in the Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi. Three patients in the city are in critical conditions.

    The World Health Organization, on Monday, confirmed three more cases of H5N1 infections in Vietnam, bringing the total to 13. Of the victims, nine have died, two have recovered and the other two are under treatment.

    The country's Central Veterinarian Department announced that byTuesday afternoon, bird flu hit 1,138 communes of 254 districts in53 local cities and provinces, including 26 in the north and 27 inthe south. Enditem