Brazil's A/H1N1 flu death toll reached 584 on Wednesday, making it the highest in the world, according to the health authorities.

Brazil's Health Ministry said the fatality rate of the virus in the country was only the seventh highest in the world despite the high death toll.

The ministry also said the number of confirmed A/H1N1 flu cases, which stood at 5,206, decreased in the past two weeks, indicating that the incidence of the disease may be falling in the country.

So far, Sao Paulo state has registered the highest death toll of 223, followed by southern Parana state with 170 deaths and Rio Grande do Sul with 98 deaths.