Flu Virus All Clear - For Now

For the time being visitors to Bratislava can be reassured that Slovakia remains free of the dreaded novel flu virus after two suspected cases turned out to be false alarms.

The two patients had been admitted to a local hospital in the city but tested negative for the virus, which has already claimed more than 150 lives in Mexico and has been confirmed in several European countries including Poland and Germany.

Last week the Government's chief public health officer, Ivan Rovny, confirmed that any travellers arriving from countries where the virus has been confirmed and who display flu like symptoms, will be forced to have a private medical examination to determine if they have the virus. Like most other countries, the Slovak Government is advising its citizens not to travel to those countries which have been most affected.