SANTIAGO, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Chilean Health Ministry on Sunday confirmed 26 new cases of the A/H1N1 flu, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 276.

    The ministry said two of the patients were seriously ill and were transferred to Santiago from the southern city of Puerto Montt.

    Chile has the largest number of confirmed cases in South America.

    The ministry said the government will adjust its response starting Monday, including gradually reducing checks at border checkpoints, ports and airports as the disease is already spreading widely within the country.

    The government will instead seek better clinic criteria to detect the disease and focus on improving medical treatment, the ministry said.

    However, the authorities will continue to provide precautionary information to travellers arriving in Chile, it added.

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