New Delhi, July 17 - India Friday reported eight new swine flu patients, taking the total number of influenza A(H1N1) virus cases to 268, health officials said.

Six children were among those who tested positive Friday, officials said.

At least '1,424 people have been tested so far, of which 268 are positive for Influenza A(H1N1),' the health ministry said in a statement.

'Of the 268 positive cases, 170 have been discharged,' it said.

Eight new laboratory-confirmed cases were reported from Delhi (2), Amritsar (1), Chennai (1), Trivandrum (2) and Pune (2).

In Delhi, a 13-year-old girl tested positive Friday. She had contracted the virus through a person who was earlier found to be infected with the flu.

On July 15, she reported the symptoms of fever and cough, and was admitted to an identified health facility.

Four public schools in the national capital have closed down some of their sections following panic after some students reported flu-like symptoms.