Flu cases of the H1N1 virus continue to rise in Latin American countries as Ecuador on Friday confirmed its first case, bringing the total of affected countries in the region to 12. Malaysia has identified its second case of the H1N1 flu in a patient at a hospital in the northern island state of Penang, the online version of The Star newspaper reported on Saturday.

Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said on Friday his country’s death toll from H1N1 has risen to 66, with 2,895 people infected. He said reports of infections, deaths and hospitalizations are showing a decreasing trend. The Cuban Public Health Ministry confirmed two new cases of H1N1, bringing the total number to three. Almost 6,500 confirmed cases of the new H1N1 flu have been reported from 33 countries, and 65 people have died, the W.H.O. said. About 4,300 confirmed and probable cases, with 3 deaths,
were reported in the United States.