Swine flu spreads to more countries

Health experts were stepping up efforts to contain a deadly outbreak of swine flu today.

Officials in Mexico said the virus has killed more than 100 people so far, while cases were also reported in countries including the US, Spain and New Zealand.

Tests were continuing to assess two people who were admitted to hospital in Scotland suffering “flu-like symptoms” after returning from Mexico.

No cases of swine flu, the new human strain of a virus usually associated with pigs, have been confirmed in Ireland.

Mexico’s federal health secretary Jose Angel Cordova said the disease has killed 103 people and made more than 1,600 ill since April 13.

World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Margaret Chan said the outbreak, caused when the H1N1 strain associated with pigs crossed over to the human population, constituted a “public health emergency of international concern” and it had “pandemic potential”.

People are not currently advised to avoid travelling to affected areas of Mexico and the US, although anyone visiting those destinations or who has recently returned should consult a doctor if they experience flu-like symptoms.

To prevent the spread of illness, it is advised people to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, to throw away dirty tissues promptly and carefully, and to wash hands and surfaces which are regularly touched.

The European Commission is calling for an emergency meeting of Europe's health ministers "as soon as possible'' to consider how to protect against the spread of the swine flu virus.

“We will be asking in the course of the day for an extraordinary meeting to be convened to consider the situation,” said a spokeswoman for EU Health Commissioner Androula Vassiliou.

The Czech government, currently holding the EU presidency, will be asked to organise the gathering.

“The timing is up to the Czech presidency, but we are asking for this meeting to happen as soon as possible,” added the spokeswoman.