Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

S Korea testing suspected swine flu case

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-28 11:32

SEOUL -- South Korean health authorities are conducting clinical tests on a 51-year-old woman who is displaying symptoms of swine flu upon her return from Mexico, officials said on Tuesday.

Three people in South Korea had been identified as suspected cases of the infection, but two have tested negative, the head of infectious disease response at the South Korean Center for Disease Control, Jun Byung-yool, told a televised briefing.

Full Coverage:  Swine Flu Outbreak Related readings:  Swine flu kills 103 in Mexico  UN chief: Swine flu becomes public health emergency of int'l concern  HK on alert after suspected swine flu case  "Wolverine" Mexico release delayed by swine flu

"Precision testing is being conducted on one of the people," Jun said, adding the woman remains at home avoiding contact with the outside but has not been quarantined at a public health facility.

The woman was in southern Mexico until April 25 and returned to South Korea with a stop-over in Los Angeles, Jun said.

Her condition does not appear to be life-threatening and South Korea could have more results from testing on her as early as Wednesday, he added.

The World Health Organisation has warned that the new flu virus, a mixture of swine, human and avian flu viruses that has killed up to 149 people in Mexico, could start a pandemic, raising its alert to indicate a significantly increased risk.