Classes at three more Queens schools have been canceled as health officials continue to evaluate the latest outbreak of H1N1 flu cases, bringing the total number of city schools closed to nine.

The newest additions to the list include MS 158Q in Bayside, IS 25 in Flushing, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Queens Village.

These are in addition to three other schools that will not be in session this week as well as three others that were closed last week.

"We've been monitoring schools for absenteeism and cases of influenza-like illness that present to the school nurses on a daily basis and these three schools as we looked at their numbers over the last few days looked like it would be prudent to close them as we've closed other schools," said Dr. Scott Harper of the New York City Department of Health.

The schools previously announced as closing Monday are JHS 74 in Bayside, PS 107 in Flushing, and IS 318 in Williamsburg. The schools will remain closed for at least five days while crews work to sanitize the buildings.

They join IS 238 in Hollis, IS 5 in Elmhurst, and PS 16 in Corona, which will be closed through Thursday.

IS 238 is the only school to have any confirmed H1N1 cases. All of the other schools reported an unusually high number of students complaining of flu-like symptoms.

One of the confirmed cases is IS 238 assistant principal Mitchell Wiener, who remains at Flushing Hospital in critical condition.

The latest round of school closures comes just one day after the city health department confirmed an inmate at Rikers Island tested positive for H1N1.

The Correction Department says there are no other reported cases of the flu in any of its jails.

Correction officials say the inmate arrived at the Ann M. Kross Center on April 18th. They say he complained of symptoms on Wednesday and was taken to Elmhurst Hospital.

Meanwhile, precautions are being taken at Rikers Island.

Officers are being encouraged to wear masks and visitors are not allowed to enter the affected areas.

They say other inmates, correction officers and staff were examined and the jail has since been sanitized.

The rising number of H1N1 cases is sure to take center stage at the World Health Organization's annual meeting.

The five-day meeting begins Monday in Geneva where the WHO's director will unveil recommendations for vaccine production. The bulk of their discussions will center around how much of the vaccine is made, how it's distributed and who gets it.

This comes as health officials monitor the rising rates of confirmed cases in Spain, Britain and Japan.

Japan is reporting more than 75 confirmed cases of the virus, most of which have been limited to teenagers.

Worldwide, the virus has now sickened more than 8,400 people.