EUR: Two suspected cases of swine flu in France: official
26 Apr 2009 6:32 PM
PARIS, April 26 AFP - French health authorities have found two suspected cases of swine flu in travellers returning from Mexico and others are expected to follow, the top health official said in an interview on Sunday.
"We do have suspicions, but these have not been confirmed, about two people who have returned from Mexico," general health director Didier Houssin told Le Parisien newspaper.
"There will certainly not be a lack of other cases in the coming days because there have been a lot of flights and boat trips" from Mexico, he added.
"I would not rule out that a sick person, and therefore potentially contagious, could enter France."
Up to 81 people in Mexico are believed to have died from the new multi-strain swine flu, which has also infected 10 people in the United States.
The World Health Organisation on Saturday declared a "public health emergency of international concern" following the outbreak and called on governments to step up surveillance of flu-like symptoms and severe pneumonia.
