Swine flu hits Spain

April 29, 2009  •  National News  •  0 Comments

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• Medical staff wearing masks are seen at 'La Fe' Hospital in Valencia, Spain, where a student was confirmed as suffering from the swine flu virus

SPAIN has registered Europe’s first confirmed case of swine flu.

A second man was confirmed to have the virus on Tuesday afternoon.

The health ministry admitted on Monday that a patient admitted to a hospital in Almansa, near Albacete tested positive for the virus.

A spokesman said his condition was not serious, but it has since emerged that at least 26 other suspected cases of the virus were being investigated this week.

“They are all stable, none of the cases is grave, not even that of the cases confirmed [as swine flu],” he said.

“These are people who have recently been on trips to Mexico.”

The first victim was a 22-year-old student, who arrived from Mexico on April 22.

“He went to his health centre with a fever and respiratory symptoms and even though his clinical condition did not require hospitalisation he was admitted as a preventive measure.

“He has been reacting favourably and continues to be treated with antiviral medicines. We will be applying preventive treatment to all those people who have been in contact with him.”

Two other students who travelled with him are being treated at Spanish hospitals, according to local press reports.

It is thought that the case in Valencia is that of a 24-year-old student from the same group.

Local authorities insisted they have sufficient stocks of antiviral medicines.

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