The delegation of 260 students, comprising of Romanians and foreigners from 31 European countries, had gathered at the hotel to participate in a conference.
Health state secretary Adrian Streinu-Cercel disclosed that the infected were under medical intervention at the Matei Bals Institute for Infectious Diseases in Bucharest.
All were stated to be suffering from medium to severe forms of the flu and their condition was being closely monitored.
Streinu-Cercel stated the infection was transmitted by the callous negligence of a Portuguese woman who despite testing positive for the influenza refused admission in a hospital.
Precautionary measures adopted
Though the other inmates of the hotel had not exhibited any symptoms of the flu, as a precautionary measure they were all isolated and their health being watched closely.
In addition, the health authorities have begun an epidemiological investigation to trace all those who have been in close contact with the infected people.
Spurt in cases of H1N1
Around 76 fresh cases of H1N1 surfaced in Romania over the weekend, with 36 being reported on a single day. “This is the biggest number of cases registered overnight”, said exert Alexander Rafila, member of the Healthcare Ministry’s committee on the new virus.
The official number of people diagnosed with the influenza in the country has reached 500, but the health authorities reckon the actual number may be a lot higher.
People generally refrain from reporting the infection and indulge in self medication. To make matters worse, they keep interacting with others unknowingly spreading the disease.
In a bid to halt the spread of the virus the health authorities met on October 30 to discuss a ban on any events that would lead to congregation of large crowds. However, such a measure would have repercussions on the presidential elections campaign ahead of the November 22 vote.
In Romania, the death rate for swine flu presently stands at 0.01 percent, but according to estimates of the Health Ministry it can rise to a maximum of2.5 percent.
The first swine flu contamination in Romania was registered on May 23 by a young woman who had returned from the United States.
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