SANTIAGO, SPAIN - Countries across Latin America reported more swine flu cases on Friday, more than a month after the outbreak first became known.

In Chile authorities reported the number of confirmed cases of the A(H1N1) virus had risen to 4,315, as the southern hemisphere country continues to battle through its winter flu season.

Despite the jump in cases, health officials said just 3.7 percent of the infected had required hospital treatment, with four people - or under 0,1 percent of those infected - dying from the disease.

But concern continued as school children, between the ages of five and 19, have been the worst affected, representing 63 percent of cases.

Across the border in Peru, the authorities reported 21 new cases on Friday, bringing the total there to 185.

In Brazil the government reported a total of 131 cases, more than doubling last week's total.

On Monday a Brazilian bacteriological institute identified a new strain of the disease in Sao Paulo, dubbed A/Sao Paulo/1454/H1N1.

Nicaragua continued to be hit as well, with 59 of 170 the infected there still receiving hospital treatment.

In a bid to combat the disease, the government there has announced it will vaccinate 13,000 teachers, after a similar move to cover soldiers, police and some health workers.

In Colombia 64 cases have now been reported, the government said on Friday.