Brought by a Mexican who arrived in Hong Kong via Shanghai. The hotel is isolated for 7 days. China seeks to quarantine all those who travelled with the Mexican to Shanghai. In Mexico the death toll from confirmed cases of swine flu drops to 101. South Korea and Israel the other two Asian nations where cases of the H1N1 virus have been confirmed.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Agencies) – It’s “pandemic emergency” in Hong Kong, after a Mexican who arrived in the city via Shanghai tested positive for swine flu, the first confirmed case in Asia.

200 guests and 100 employees of the Metropark hotel in Wan Chai, where the Mexican was staying, have been placed under quarantine for 7 days.  Meanwhile efforts are being made to trace his fellow passengers on the plane and the taxi driver who brought him to his destination in Hong Kong.

In Mexico health officials claim the strength of the virus is weaker than first thought, even if a voluntary five day shut down of the nation has begun.  Out of 176 deaths, only 12 are confirmed to have been caused by the virus and authorities say that only 101 deaths can be attributed to H1N1, proving it has a mortality rate similar to traditional flues.

China has declared that it will quarantine all those who travelled to shanghai with the man hospitalised in Hong Kong.  Among the other Asian nations hit by the virus are South Korea, with one confirmed case and two cases in Israel.

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