SEOUL, July 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's health authorities said Tuesday they raised the nation's alert level against the A/H1N1 influenza from the third-highest to the second-highest as the pace of the virus spread is growing faster.

    According to a statement by the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, the health authorities decided to revise up the national disease alert level by one notch with more cases of community infections being reported.

    Amid the number of flu infections increasing with a massive influx of overseas students during the summer season, health authorities are worried that the fast spread of the influenza may turn into a pandemic in the autumn season.

    The ministry also changed its policies against the disease, from a "containment and isolation" strategy to a "damage-minimizing" one, which focuses on curing patients with serious symptoms, the authorities added.

    Earlier in the day, the nation reported 28 additional flu cases with the total number of infections raised to 922.

    Although no death case has been reported in the country, concerns are growing as more cases are suspected of being contracted through so-called community transmission, through which people are infected without contacting other patients or visiting affected countries.

    The government earlier said it would provide 174.8 billion won (139.3 million U.S. dollars) on securing enough vaccine for around27 percent of the population, which will be available starting from November.

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