2nd LD) S. Korea reports first suspected swine flu case

(ATTN: RECASTS lead; REPLACES 2-4 para with KCDC's official explanations; ADDS
updated info in last two paras)
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean health authorities said Tuesday that
they are conducting tests on a citizen suspected of having contracted swine flu
as the country heightened its health alert following a global outbreak of the
deadly disease.
"We have received reports on three people suspected of having contracted swine
flu and tests are currently underway on one citizen with the other two having
been found not to carry the influenza virus," the state-run Korea Centers for
Disease Control (KCDC) said in a statement.
All three recently returned from trips to Mexico and were quarantined in their
homes where antiviral drugs were administered, it added.
A KCDC official confirmed that the person being tested was found to carry the
"H1" type virus but noted that the "N1" type virus also needed to be found before
they could confirm whether the individual is infected with swine flu.
The reports come as governments worldwide are struggling to stem the spread of
the highly infectious virus, which has reportedly killed nearly 150 people in
Mexico alone.
Human cases have been also reported from the United States, Canada and some
European countries, according to media reports, raising concerns that the virus
is spreading at a faster-than-expected pace.
Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by type A influenza that regularly
causes outbreaks mostly among pigs and is transmittable to humans.
Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) held an emergency meeting and raised
its alert level by one notch to the third highest.
The South Korean government has also tightened quarantine measures for pork
imports from Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, while stepping up inspections of
tourists who have traveled to affected areas.
In a precautionary effort, the KCDC said on Monday that it will double its
stockpile of Tamiflu and other influenza drugs. The amount would be enough to
treat 5 million people, around 10 percent of the country's population.
In its latest move, the KCDC expanded its quarantine to include travelers who
return from all foreign countries, a stepped-up move from the previous measure
under which those who returned from affected areas were screened for infection.
The disease control center is considering upgrading the current alert level when
it convenes a meeting in the afternoon, sources said.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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