Schools shut as more confirmed cases in Japan

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In Japan, the number of confirmed cases of A-H1N1 flu has jumped, pushing Japan into one of the top five countries affected by the disease. Thousands of schools in the western part of the country have been ordered to close.

Class is over. But this time, things are little different.

"We received an emergency notification telling us that the school would be closed for a week."

Osaka and Hyogo prefectures in the country ordered all their junior high schools and all high schools to shut.

Masks are being worn across the country, "I'd rather not go to work today. The city may be able to decide that for students, but like everyone else I've got work."

"We are all hoping the flu won't spread any more than it already has."

The country had just four confirmed cases as of Friday, all of whom were believed to have caught the flu outside the country.

However, over one hundred more people were confirmed to be infected just over the weekend. Officials are warning that the number is likely to rise.

It remained unclear how and where these newly infected people came into contact with the virus.