29 April,2009 08:20 AM IST | | Agencies
The swine flu epidemic crossed new borders yesterday with the first cases confirmed in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region, as the number of deaths in Mexico blamed on the virus surpassed 150.
The swine flu has already spread to at least six other countries besides Mexico.
The Israeli Health Ministry confirmed the region's first case of swine flu in the city of Netanya. The 26-year-old patient recently returned from Mexico and had contracted the same strain.
New Zealand reported on Tuesday that 11 people who recently returned from Mexico contracted the virus.
