MANILA, Philippines — The number of confirmed A(H1N1) cases in schools has reached 175 with two more schools in Metro Manila suspending their classes because of the flu virus, according to an official of the Department of Education (DepEd).

DepEd National Capital Region director Teresita Domalanta said that the Lourdes School in Quezon City and San Beda College in Alabang, Muntinlupa suspended their classes Thursday after each was informed of a confirmed case.

“This is the first time that this happened to them so they suspended their classes,” Domalanta said.

Also on Thursday, a female employee of the Sandiganbayan 5th Division has tested positive for the A(H1N1) flu virus. The woman, whom court officials refused to identify, was said to be pregnant.

Sandiganbayan Acting Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval ordered coworkers of the affected employee to go on home quarantine.

But the court will also continue to hold office.

Sandoval called on personnel to “as much as possible remain in their respective offices during office hours and monitor themselves daily for any occurrence of fever or any other flu-like symptoms and notify their immediate supervisor and clinic, stay at home for seven days.”

“Exposed employees who are pregnant or have health chronic condition such as diabetes, asthma should consult their attending physician,” he added.

Domalanta said schools were ready to comply with the revised regulations issued by the Department of Health last week which direct schools to suspend classes only once, though the DepEd-NCR had yet to officially receive the directive.