HONG KONG, July 24 (Xinhua) -- A new research from the University of Otago of New Zealand showed influenza A/H1N1 could be far more infectious than originally thought.

    The researchers from the university's Department of Public Health in Wellington estimated that a person who is ill with the new strain will infect on average almost two other people.

    Researchers said this means up to 80 percent of the entire population of New Zealand could become infected.

    However the researchers pointed out that only two thirds of those infected may be expected to show symptoms and such a spread would require a high level of mixing between groups.

    The findings are published in the latest New Zealand Medical Journal released here Friday.

    In the meantime, the flu is still spreading in Asia Pacific region with more cases occurring.

    The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has reported its first confirmed case of Influenza A/H1N1, the Marianas Variety reported on Friday.

    The confirmed case was a 27-year-old male from the main island of Weno in the state of Chuuk, said the National Department of Health and Social Affairs.

    In Myanmar, influenza A/H1N1 cases have risen to six. Of the six flu patients, the prior three have recovered and were discharged from hospital.

    Myanmar reported the first case of new flu A/H1N1 in the country on June 27. So far, the authorities have given medical check-up to over 2 million people at airports, ports and border check points and examined those suspicious of the deadly disease since the outbreak in Mexico on April 28, it said.

    Japan's tally of A/H1N1 flu cases infections has exceeded 5,000,said the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry on Friday.

    According to the ministry, there have been no serious cases reported since the first infections in Japan were confirmed in May, except for one case each of flu-linked encephalopathy in Kanagawa Prefecture and in Tochigi Prefecture.

    The Vietnamese Ministry of Health confirmed 24 more A/H1N1 cases of influenza, bringing total number of flu patients to 499 in the country.

    So far, 346 patients have recovered and discharged from hospitals. The rest are being quarantined and treated, all in stable conditions.

    Vietnam has reported no A/H1N1 related death since the first case confirmed in the country.

    Indonesian foreign affairs ministry confirmed here on Friday that an Indonesian student in Malaysia died from alleged A/H1N1 flu while he was studying in the neighboring country.

    He cautioned that both countries should be careful in responding this issue since it could be preliminary indication on the wake of A/H1N1 flu in Malaysia.

    A spokesman for Hong Kong Department of Health said there had been 145 newly confirmed cases of A/H1N1 influenza in the 24 hours to 2:30 p.m.(0630 GMT) in China's Hong Kong Friday.

    This brings to 2,352 the total number of A/H1N1 influenza cases in Hong Kong, said the spokesman.

    China's Macao reported six newly confirmed cases of Influenza A/H1N1 on Friday, bringing the total number of such cases to 149.

    The Malaysian Health Ministry on Friday reported 39 new cases of A/H1N1 flu, all cases were locally transmitted.

    He added that Malaysia has detected 978 cases so far, with 954 had recovered, while 20 of the total cases were still undergoing anti-virus treatment in hospitals, and four were receiving outpatient treatment at their home.

    Sri Lankan health authorities said on Friday that three more A/H1N1 flu cases were confirmed on Thursday, bringing the total number of A/H1N1 flu cases in the country to 44.

    Officials from the Health Ministry said there is no reason to be panic as the government has already initiated a surveillance program at the main entry point to the country, the Bandaranaike International Airport to detect possible cases of the disease coming to the country.

    Singapore reported on Friday one more case of A/H1N1 related death, bringing the number of total fatalities here to four, according to the country's Health Ministry.

    According to local TV broadcaster Channel News Asia, infectious disease experts said it will take another two months before A/H1N1infections die down in Singapore though the number of infections are expected to slow after peaking in two weeks.