A 58 year old woman from southwest Poland has become the first in the country to be diagnosed with swine flu, it was confirmed Wednesday evening.
 
Around 200 people that she could have come into contact with are being tracked down and will be put under observation.

The Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Mielec reports that the woman comes from the Subcarpathian district and has recently returned from the USA. "Her condition is not serious, just a cough, headache and sneezing," said spokesman for the hospital in Mielec, Aneta Dyka-Urbańska.

The Minister of Health, Ewa Kopacz, confirmed the first case of swine flu in Poland. The Minister added that the infected woman had arrived on flight LO 016 from the US on LOT national airlines, which are now trying to track down those who arrived on the same flight.

"We have to find 178 passengers and nine crew members on the flight of May, 2 from Newark, NJ," said a spokesman for the Government Security Centre.

"Seventeen customs officers and border patrol officers had contact with the passengers and they must be examined and undergo several tests. We have already ascertained the names of passengers who travelled on the same flight," added the spokesman.

Three persons - members of the woman’s family who she had contact with - have already arrived at the hospital and are staying at the infectious diseases ward, away from other patients.

Forty two people have died from the virus in Mexico and two from Texas, USA. Over 1.900 cases have been reported worldwide in 24 countries. (gg/pg)

source: PAP