There was no new Influenza A (H1N1) death reported since Sept 19, with the death toll remaining at 77.

Health Department Director-General Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said however, 147 new patients with influenza-like illnesses (ILI) were admitted to hospitals today.

This brings the number of ILI cases being treated nationwide to 890 people, at 82 hospitals, including nine private.

"Although there has been a reduction in cases recently, the spread of the Influenza A (H1N1) throughout the community is still active," he said in a media statement.

Mohd Ismail advised those wishing to go to open houses and functions to take Influenza A (H1N1) preventive measures.

Meanwhile, he said, only 74 or eight per cent of the patients with ILI at hospitals were H1N1 positive, while 18 were being treated at the intensive care unit.

He said positive cases had risk factors with seven children below five years of age, obesity (four), chronic illnesses (six) and chronic respiratory illness (one).

- Bernama