MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Health (DoH) has identified two new suspected cases of Influenza A(H1N1), both of whom arrived last May 8 from Japan, which is in the middle of a community outbreak.

The DoH said the two new cases -- a five-year-old foreign boy and a 42-year-old man of yet unknown nationality -- were placed in private hospitals in the Central Visayas region.

Their laboratory tests are still pending. A third case under observation -- a 32-year-old woman who arrived from India last May 12, also has pending laboratory results.

The DoH has ruled out 67 suspected cases since May 1, the latest of whom are a 67-year old Filipino who arrived from Japan last May 10, and a 37-year-old male foreigner who arrived from the US last May 11.

?While the intensive laboratory procedures for individuals possibly infected with the Influenza A(H1N1) virus is ongoing, the DoH reiterates that influenza-like illness monitoring at the community level is also enhanced,? the DoH said in a statement.

?This is to ensure that outbreaks of influenza are detected early and control measures are implemented immediately,? it added.

The DoH said that although the Philippines had no confirmed case of the A(H1N1) flu virus as of Wednesday, it reminded ?all agencies to continually be on the alert against the possible entry of the influenza A(H1N1) into the country.?