Confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu in Italy rise to four

Source: Xinhua | 05-05-2009 07:51

ROME, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Two more people have contracted A/H1N1 flu in Italy, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to four, the Italian health ministry said on Monday.

The two new cases are a 16-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, both of whom are being treated in hospitals in Rome after returning from Mexico.

Italy's first case of the flu, known as influenza A/H1N1, was confirmed on Saturday, but the 50-year-old Tuscan man had already recovered from a very mild case of the virus by the time he was diagnosed.

A 25-year-old man, who also contracted the flu but recovered later, was confirmed on Sunday. Both men had just returned from trips to Mexico.

There have been no cases of person-to-person transmission in Italy so far.

The health ministry said on Monday the increase in cases had been "expected" and "there is no cause for particular concern."

"This is partly because the new virus produces less severe symptoms than seasonal flu and partly because Italy has enough stock of the drugs recommended for treating this infection, as well as enough distinguished centers able to admit and treat affected individuals," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry's higher health institute said it had tested "over20 samples" so far. It also confirmed a network of 27 laboratories had been set up around the country to collect and analyze further samples.

Health Undersecretary Ferruccio Fazio said on Saturday that 13 people had been confined to their homes for seven days and were "under observation" after showing symptoms similar to those of A/H1N1 flu.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei