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First suspected case of swine flu in Austria

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-28 23:47

VIENNA -- A 28-year-old woman, back from her Mexico vacation on April 17, was under treatment in the hospital of Steyr in Austrian state Upper Austria with flu symptoms, the initial test being negative, reported Austrian Broadcast Station ORF on Tuesday.

Full coverage:  Swine Flu Outbreak Related readings:  Swine flu spreads to Middle East, Asia-Pacific  Swine flu cases in New Zealand confirmed  WHO raises global alert level on swine flu

According to ORF, the biggest hospital operator in Upper Austria GESPAG has confirmed the case, saying that the woman is now in quarantine, but a quick test showed negative. A thorough text will be carried out by the Institute of Virology in Vienna, and the result will be available no later than Wednesday morning.

Austrian Health Minister Alois Stoeger noted on Tuesday that Austria was "fully prepared", and "clear instructions" have already been adopted in doctors and hospitals.

Austria followed the example set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and increased the warning level from three to four, which means that "the crisis has been convoked," said a spokesman of the Ministry of Health.