South Korea confirms its first case of swine flu (Roundup)

May 2, 2009, 9:29 GMT

   Seoul - South Korea on Saturday reported its first human case of swine flu, a nun who had recently travelled to Mexico.

   The 51-year-old has been isolated in hospital since Tuesday after displaying flu symptoms after her return a week ago from the country worst-hit by the virus, the Korea Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said.

   It was the fourth swine-flu infection in Asia after one was confirmed in Hong Kong and two in Israel.

   The infection caused fear to grow that the N1N1 virus could quickly be spread from human to human in South Korea. A 44-year-old woman who lives with the sick nun is being examined on suspicions that she too could have been infected.

   The nun, however, has recovered from her fever and other symptoms after being treated with Tamiflu and might be released from hospital this weekend, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said.

   The centre on Friday said in measures to prevent the spread of swine flu, Koreans returning home from Mexico would be quarantined for a week in the houses they visit. The government has also restricted travel to Mexico.

   Mexico late Friday said it has had 16 deaths from swine flu and 397 infections. The only other country to report a death was the United States with one death from 141 infections.

   The other governments that have reported infections are Canada, Spain, Britain, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland.