Philippines postpones classes because of swine flu

Philippine officials announced on Saturday that the start of college classes would be postponed for a week because of concerns over the rising number of swine flu cases in the country.

Philippine officials announced on Saturday that the start of college classes would be postponed for a week because of concerns over the rising number of swine flu cases in the country.

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The Department of Health has reported 33 swine flu cases, and all have shown mild symptoms. The country has the most number of swine flu cases in Southeast Asia according to the World Health Organization.

The postponement of classes until June 15 will give foreign students who come from countries with swine flu cases time to self-quarantine, Emmanuel Angeles, chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, which oversees colleges and universities, told DZBB radio.

The move followed the discovery that three students, including two Japanese, were infected with the virus at Manila's De La Salle University.

The disease has spread to 69 countries. A vast majority of the nearly 22,000 cases reported so far have been mild, though 126 people have died as a result of the disease, mostly in Mexico.