New H1N1 cases have been detected in Yemen, raising fears the pandemic could strike again after its end early this year was not so clear.

The News Yemen quoted sources at a private hospital as saying that 9 people were admitted to the hospital and detected with H1N1 in early November.

Four of the nine died so far, the website said, as it did not publish the name of the hospital.

The national H1N1 Monitoring and Surveillance Commission received reports about the cases, it said, adding:" we called the commission, but it did not confirm or deny H1N1 cases had been detected in the country."

The hospital contacted the commission over the cases, but it was informed to keep it secret while Yemen was preparing for hosting the 20th Gulf soccer cup, it said.

The commission also visited the infected and supplied the hospital with necessary medications, the sources were quoted as saying.