SANTIAGO, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Chilean Public Health Ministry said on Wednesday that some 700,000 people, or 5 percent of its population, will be infected with the A/H1N1 flu virus by the end of the influenza outbreak.

    The estimate is based on the 11,293 cases confirmed by lab tests, and another 298,807 patients with A/H1N1 flu symptoms, Chile's Undersecretary for Public Health Jeanette Vega said on Wednesday.

    Since the first case of A/H1N1 virus diagnosed two months ago, Chile is one of the worst hit countries in South America, topping the region with identified cases in mid-July.

    Vega said the peak of the outbreak is still to come in three weeks as the country passes the southern hemisphere's winter.

    Last week, Vega predicted Chile was nearing the end of a wave of cases associated with the winter season. Thirteen out of 15 regions in the country were showing a declining rate of infection.

    According to official figures released Tuesday, Chile has confirmed 68 deaths of the flu, up 28 in four days.

    In combating the disease, the ministry has bought 600,000 units of anti-viral medicine, enough for 1.5 million doses.

Special Report:  World Tackles A/H1N1 Flu