HELSINKI, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu in Finland has increased to 1,100, indicating an accelerating spread of the virus across the country, local media reported Wednesday.

    New infections were mainly detected in northern Finland but the epidemic has apparently been moving south, infecting increasing number of people, especially in schools.

    At least two schools in Helsinki have seen students diagnosed with the virus.

    In Tampere, the country's third biggest city, a school announced that about one third of its 428 students may have been infected with the disease.

    The Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare said the peak of the epidemic will arrive at different times in different parts of the country. In the south, the real onset of the disease will be in about four to five weeks.

    Vaccinations for health care personnel and pregnant women are underway, and the inoculation for chronic patients between 6 months and 64 years old has started in some places.

    More than 600,000 doses of the vaccine have been distributed in Finland and additional shipments are coming in from Belgium weekly. However, the supplies cover only about 10 percent of demand.