Reports have confirmed that the Government of South Korea is all set to downgrade its A/H1N1 flu alert level by a full notch starting next week, with the number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the region steadily declining. The details were confirmed by the country's Government on Friday.

The downgrade to the second-lowest yellow level, on a scale which has a total of four notches, has come after the country in May last year had raised the threat level to "yellow", and taken it further to "orange" in July of the same year.

The highest alert level of "red" was hit in November.

For nine consecutive weeks, there had been a steady fall in the total number of patients suffering from flu-like symptoms across the country. As of last week, the average was 3.33 suspected patients out of 1,000 people. The numbers have been confirmed by the health authorities.

After the development, the health ministry will be doing away with its 24 hour A/H1N1 flu crisis center.