China's State Council said Wednesday the country faces "severe challenges" in the prevention and control of A/H1N1 flu after some areas reported a sharp increase in the number of patients infected by the epidemic.

Groups of students were found infected by the disease and the arrival of flu season also challenged A/H1N1 flu prevention and control endeavor,said a statement issued after an executive meeting of the State Council.

The State Council, or the Cabinet, ordered government departments at all levels to beef up measures to prevent large-scale outbreak of the disease and vaccine producers to speed up their production.

Efforts should be made to prevent and control A/H1N1 flu in schools and avoid assemblies in such places, according to the meeting, which was chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao.

The State Council also required intensified efforts to promote public awareness and urged health authorities to make public A/H1N1 flu information in a timely, open and transparent manner.

A freshman at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics had tested positive for A/H1N1 flu and died Tuesday, bringing the death toll of A/H1N1 flu on the Chinese mainland to four, health authorities said Wednesday.