Turkey confirms first two cases of H1N1 flu

By Ayla Jean Yackley

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey on Saturday confirmed its first two cases of H1N1 influenza after tests showed the mother of the first victim, an American male, had also contracted the virus, a Health Ministry official said.

The man, travelling with his family from the United States via Amsterdam, was diagnosed after arriving at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport en route to Iraq on Friday, Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag said at a news conference.

Six family members travelling with the man were also quarantined at a Turkish research hospital, where they were being given anti-viral medication, Akdag said.

Tests showed the man's mother was also infected with the H1N1 virus, Harun Celik, the Health Ministry's spokesman, told Reuters. Local media had reported earlier the man's wife was suffering from the disease, but Celik denied those reports.

"His mother also tested positive for swine flu. None of the other family members have any health issues," Celik said.

The entire family will be held for observation until May 21 to determine whether they may have contracted swine flu, because the virus takes up to a week to manifest itself, Akdag said.

India on Saturday also reported its first victim of the H1N1 virus. The spread of the disease has led the World Health Organisation to declare a pandemic is imminent.

India and Turkey are the 37th and 38th countries to confirm cases of H1N1 virus. The WHO said on Saturday 72 people had died from the disease or its complications.