The Philippines will lead a health ministers' meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to address the H1N1 flu virus outbreak.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque will preside over the meeting in Bangkok on May 8, which will be attended by health ministers from ASEAN countries plus China, Japan, and South Korea.

The meeting will also help prepare for the 62nd annual World Health Assembly in Geneva from 18 to 27 May 2009.
 
The ASEAN health ministers may also explore the need to convene the first East Asia Health Ministers Meeting to discuss this issue.

The rise in the number of confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza infections continued unabated on Saturday.

The World Health Organization says there are now 615 cases in 15 countries up from Friday's 367 in 13 countries.

Confirmed cases of Influenza A(H1N1), As of May 2, 2009 (Source: WHO)

Mexico - 397 with 16 deaths
United States - 141 with one death
Canada - 34
Spain - 13
United Kingdom - 13
Germany - 4
New Zealand - 4
Israel - 2
Republic of Korea - 1
Hong Kong - 1
France - 1
Denmark - 1
Austria - 1
Netherlands - 1
Switzerland - 1

The WHO says Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak, has 397 infections including 16 deaths.

The United States follows with 141 and one death, a toddler from Texas.

Next is Canada with 34 cases, Spain and the United Kingdom with 13 each, Germany and New Zealand with 4, Israel with 2, and South Korea, Hong Kong, France, Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland with one each.

The WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders, but the agency urges people who are ill to delay international travel, and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention.

Hong Kong

About 300 people in Hong Kong have been quarantined after the first case of H1N1 flu infection in Asia was confirmed by Hong Kong officials.

The quarantine was ordered after a Mexican tourist tested positive for the dreaded virus and brought to a hospital.

The Metro Park Hotel, where the Mexican tourist checked in, has been locked down and guarded.

There were about 200 guests and 100 staff at the hotel, and 20 were taken by ambulances on Friday.

Officials also began the task of tracking down people whom the patient came into contact with on his journey to Hong Kong.

The patient had flown to Hong Kong via Shanghai on China Eastern Airlines flight MU 505 and developed a fever after arriving in the territory Thursday afternoon.

South Korea

Meanwhile, South Korea confirmed Asia's second case of H1N1 flu infection.

South Korean officials say a 51-year-old woman who returned from Mexico on April 26 tested positive for the dreaded virus.

But officials note she has almost fully recovered and is now being considered to be discharged from a hospital.

Two other people are still being tested for the infection.

No Pinoys

Philippine foreign affairs officials say no Filipino overseas worker has contracted the H1N1 influenza despite two confirmed cases in Asia.

Philippine Consul General in Hong Kong Claro Cristobal continues to remind Filipinos in hong kong to take extra precaution.

There are about 150,000 Filipinos working and living in the Chinese territory.

In South Korea, Philippine Ambassador Luis Cruz says they continue to monitor developments related to virus.

There are about 50,000 Filipinos in South Korea. -- reports from ANC, May 2