Israel confirms 1st case of swine flu

The Israeli Health Ministry on Tuesday confirmed the country's first case of swine flu and the local hospital said the patient has fully recovered.

The 26-year-old patient recently returned from Mexico, medical officials said. More than 150 people have died in Mexico in an outbreak of the virus. Dozens of other cases have been confirmed worldwide, but none of these have been fatal.

Health Ministry spokeswoman Einav Shimron said ministry laboratory tests confirmed that a patient at Laniado hospital in the coastal city of Netanya had contracted swine flu. Shimron said it was the same strain as the Mexican variety.

The patient has recovered and is in "excellent condition," said Dr. Avinoam Skolnik, Laniado's medical director. He will remain hospitalized until the Health Ministry approves his release, he added.

Another suspected case has been tested at another hospital but results are not in, the ministry said. That patient also returned from Mexico and is recovering, a hospital official said.