MANAGUA - The swine flu virus continued its march through Latin America Sunday, with several countries reporting an uptick in the number of cases.

Nicaragua reported six new cases of swine flu, raising to 26 the total number of people infected with the A(H1N1) virus across the country, while Argentina reported 13 new confirmed cases.

Managua's health minister Guillermo Gonzalez said cases of the illness are "appearing because we are actively looking for them," explaining the surge of the disease, which was first detected here just seven days ago.

In Nicaragua the swine flu virus has largely hit school-aged children, prompting the temporary closure of at least two schools.

The latest rash of cases prompted brigades of health workers to descend on some 20,000 homes in a Managua neighborhood where the outbreak was spotted.

Gonzalez said the majority of cases have been detected in people who visited countries where the disease has taken a firmer hold.

That proved to be the case in Venezuela, where a two-year old girl, who health officials said had just returned from the United States, became the fifth confirmed case of swine flu Sunday.

Authorities said the tot was being treated at home and kept in isolation. So far there have been no deaths in Venezuela from the virus.

Meanwhile, health officials in Uruguay reported three new cases of the virus, bringing the total to 25, while in Peru health officials confirmed 12 new cases, saying the total there is now 61 there.

Authorities in Argentina's said 13 new confirmed cases brings the total there to 215, and said three-quarters of the country's cases have been in school-aged children.

Officials in Buenos Aires said they are reviewing more than 800 suspected cases of the ailment. -AFP