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First case of swine flu confirmed in Netherlands

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-30 22:46

BRUSSELS -- A three-year-old who had recently returned from Mexico has become the first confirmed case of swine flu in The Netherlands, the Dutch Health Ministry said on Thursday.

Full coverage:  Swine Flu Outbreak Related readings:  12 Danish cleared off swine flu  WHO says swine flu pandemic is imminent  Little boy, far from home, 1st US swine flu death

The ministry said the child is being treated at home and the child's parents have been given antiviral medication as a precaution.

Dutch Health Minister Ab Klink said at a press conference in Rotterdam on Thursday that a number of emergency measures have been implemented, including more production of antiviral medicines such as Tamiflu and Relenza.

The government has decided to buy 19 million vaccines against the flu, he said.

The Netherlands is the 12th country to report a case of swine flu.

The World Health Organisation has raised the swine flu pandemic alert level to phase five, which indicates that a pandemic is imminent.