Australia to raise swine flu alert

AUSTRALIA said yesterday that it is set to raise its swine flu alert level as the number of victims hit by the pandemic continued to mount while Thailand urged calm after a sharp increase in cases.

Australian health minister Nicola Roxon said that, with the national tally nearing 1,500 cases, the whole country would soon move to the “sustain” phase in line with hotspot state Victoria.

The “sustain” phase, Australia’s second-highest, gives authorities the power to cancel sports events, close schools and restrict travel, although officials say extreme measures such as closing national borders are unlikely.