HONG KONG, July 21 (Xinhua) -- In the latest development of A/H1N1 flu outbreak in the Asia-Pacific region, South Korea's health authorities raised the nation's alert level against the A/H1N1 influenza from the third-highest to the second-highest.

    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 as the pace of the virus spread is growing faster in the country.

    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.

    Malaysia sounded rosy in the fight against the disease as its Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin claimed that the Malaysian way to contain A/H1N1 flu from spreading had worked and the situation was under control in the country.

    Muhyiddin also said early positive action by the Health authorities had allowed for speedy detection and treatment of those diagnosed as having the virus.

    The Malaysian Health Ministry reported three new A/H1N1 flu cases on Tuesday, bringing the number of total cases in the country to 877.

    On the research of the new flu, an Australian expert warned that pregnant women should be cautious and avoid crowded public places.

    Alan Hampson, who is chairing the Influenza Specialist Group (ISG), said every Australian should take steps to limit their exposure to A/H1N1 flu - particularly those at additional risk.

    His warning follows reports from Queensland health officials that a 19-year-old pregnant Palm Island woman who contracted A/H1N1 flu had lost her near-term child.

    "Pregnant women are more at risk for two reasons," he said.

    "Their immune system does seem to be suppressed during pregnancy ... and their respiratory function is compromised simply because of the pressure on the diaphragm (from the growing baby)."

    The 31st session of the South-East Asia Advisory Committee on Health Research of the World Health Organization opened in the Nepali capital Kathmandu on Tuesday.

    The participants will share health researches in their respective countries as well as measures adopted against A/H1N1 flu.

    About the death tally, the number of deaths from Influenza A/H1N1 in New Zealand rose to 11 on Tuesday.

    The latest death was a child who had underlying medical conditions and died within the past week.

    There were a total of 2,443 confirmed cases of Influenza A/H1N1in New Zealand on Tuesday, up from 2,368 on Monday.

    But the actual number of confirmed cases will be significantly higher, as only a small proportion of people with symptoms are being tested.

    There are 74 people in hospital with influenza A/H1N1, 26 of whom are in intensive care. Half of those in intensive care are in hospitals in Auckland.

    The New Zealand government said Influenza A/H1N1 has not yet peaked and health services remain under pressure.

    The health authorities said they were prepared for a possible increase in flu cases which the Health Ministry said could happen as a result of children returning to school from holidays this week.

    Guam also reported its first death case of influenza A/H1N1, the Marianas Variety online reported on Tuesday.

    Guam's Department of Public Health and Social Services said a 26-year-old female with a pre-existing medical condition died of complications on Monday in Guam due to the A/H1N1 flu virus.

    So far, the island of Guam has 16 confirmed cases.

    Vietnamese Minister of Health Nguyen Quoc Trieu has confirmed community-level transmission of influenza A/H1N1 virus in the country and the total number of flu patients has risen to 408.

    Trieu made the confirmation during his visit to Ho Chi Minh City's Ngo Thoi Nhiem private high school, where 34 students and teachers were found to be infected with the A/H1N1 virus, said the newspaper.

    The school was closed and put under quarantine on Monday. The first case of the school, a 10-grade male student, was tested positive with the virus after having contact with a flu patient in the southern province of Dong Nai.

    In Hong Kong, tests on the A/H1N1 virus in several serious cases here have not indicated any genetic change.

    York Chow, the city's secretary for food and health, said high-risk factors involved in the cases include smoking, obesity, chronic illness or working when already ill, adding that the threeA/H1N1 flu cases classified as serious have become stable, while the five critical cases remain.

    Chow said the government will discuss with doctors and medical staff its plans to start vaccinating high-risk people in January and February.

    He reiterated that in deciding whether to close a school when 10 percent of the students have fallen sick depends on the circumstances of each case, like the number of students in the school and the rate at which the disease has spread.

    Hong Kong and Macao SARs have confirmed 78 cases and nine on Tuesday, bringing the total numbers to 1,964 and 136 respectively.