Prague - Doctors have already diagnosed five Czechs with the A/H1N1 virus, in all cases contracted during the patients' trips to the US.

The most recent case is a 49-year-old man who returned to the Czech Republic on 11 June after visiting Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Honolulu. Earlier this week he reported to the Na Bulovce Hospital in Prague with influenza symptoms.

"His symptoms are generally very mild and hospitalisation was not necessary. The patient is currently in a very good condition in home quarantine," said Health Ministry spokesman Vlastimil Sršeň.

Of the five Czech swine flue cases, the first two have already fully recovered, including a Czech airlines pilot and a female tourist. The remaining three, ale tourists returned from the US, are still in doctors' care.

Pandemic scenario

The caretaker government of PM Jan Fischer is already adopting measures to prepare the Czech Republic for the possibility of a major swine flue outbreak.

The World Health Organisation last week called the disease a pandemic after a steep increase in cases diagnosed in Asia and Australia. "After this announcement, I proposed to increase the stock of antiviral drugs," says Health Minister Dana Jurásková.

So far the Czech government's pandemic scenario counted on a stock of antiviral drugs for 20% of the population. If the cabinet passes Jurásková's proposal, drugs for another 500,000 people will be purchased so treatment will be available for 2.5 million people, or 25% of the population.