Laos confirmed 17 more influenza A/ H1N1 cases, raising the total number of flu patients in the country to 24, Lao newspaper the Vientiane Times reported Tuesday.

Among the newly confirmed cases, 11 people returned to Laos from Thailand via Vangtao-Chongmek international border checkpoint in Champassak province, according to the National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology.

The 11 patients are now being treated in Champassak provincial hospital, said the newspaper. They were among a group of 200 other workers. These people are being contacted for health checks.

Workers returning from Thailand to Laos in a big group are at high risk of acquiring the A/H1N1 virus, said Phengta Vongphrachanh, Director of the center.

Currently, the country focuses on health education campaigns, especially in public areas such as schools, bus stations and garment factories to raise people's awareness to adopt hygiene measures, according to the newspaper.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2009)