MANILA, Philippines?The number of confirmed A(H1N1) cases in the country almost doubled in the past week, from 861 reported by the Department of Health on Friday to 1,709 cases tallied as of yesterday.

Health officials indicated the number ?has yet to peak.?

Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde assuaged the public with a report that 1,485 of the total number of cases tallied from the first week of May to June 27 have already recovered.

Metro Manila appears to be the hardest hit by the A(H1N1) spread, accounting for 1,225 confirmed cases.

Southern Tagalog follows with 251 cases and Central Luzon with 117.

Cagayan Valley and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao are the only remaining A(H1N1)-free regions in the country.

?I cannot say if we have peaked but I think the cases will still increase,? Villaverde said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

Villaverde said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III met with DOH regional directors, its chiefs of hospitals and the task force on A(H1N1) on Tuesday to firm up the government?s mitigation strategies.

Surge seen

?We have to prepare for a surge in mild cases,? Villaverde said.

He said mitigation strategies centered on making sure the health care system could accommodate the A(H1N1) cases who need medical treatment.

During the DOH command conference on Tuesday, Duque ordered the activation of community health response teams and the preparation of hospitals, health centers and private clinics for the expected increase in A(H1N1) cases.

?As we anticipate more cases in the coming months, we must institute effective mitigation measures to prevent deaths and reduce the impact of the pandemic on our nation and the economy,? Duque said in a statement.

Villaverde said that newness of the virus was a factor in the expected increase in cases.

?Globally, people have yet to develop immunity because the virus is still new,? Villaverde said.

Health officials continued to stress the mild nature of the virus.

Those who are advised to seek immediate medical attention are high-risk persons who develop flu-like symptoms. They include those with pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV, pregnant women, infants and the elderly.

Those who are not high-risk persons but develop flu-like symptoms are urged to stay at home and manage their symptoms.