Bermuda was proactive in facing up to the threat of swine flu said Health Minister Nelson Bascome.

He said news broke of the virus over the weekend of April 26/27 and on Monday April 27 health officials met to prepare a response with contact with world health bodies and two press releases put out.

He told the House of Assembly on Friday that the pandemic plan immediately went into effect with training and meetings between public health workers, the hospitals and Customs and Immigration officials who screen visitors.

Minister Bascome added: "We were in daily contact with schools to ensure that the good hygiene message was stressed and to ensure that should there be any sickness we would be immediately advised and in a position to take appropriate steps."

Daily contact was kept with world health bodies but Mr. Bascome said the public also needed to limit the spread of infection with good hygiene including regular hand-washing and covering coughs.

Mr. Bascome said that, despite the scare in the American media, the flu was milder than health bodies first thought.

He told the House: "Public health officials report that the severity of the flu is similar to that of seasonal flu."