Health Minister Tomica Milosavljevic confirmed today that the first case of the new H1N1 virus has been detected in Serbia.

Milosavljevic said that a 29-year-old male, who was in Argentina from June 18 to 22, has been diagnosed with the virus.

The patient is hospitalised at the Institute for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, he said.

President of the Ministry of Health’s working group for implementing the plan of activities before and during the pandemic doctor Predrag Kon stated that the patient became infected during his last week’s trip to Argentina.

He said the patient felt the first symptoms on June 22, explaining that he returned to Belgrade by car from Zagreb, where he was in contact with two people.

He also noted that this has nothing to do with the 19-year-old student from Montenegro who was diagnosed with the virus two days ago.

He stated that this case is not related to the upcoming Universiade and announced that all regulatory measures will be executed during this sporting event so as to prevent the possible spread of the disease.

Kon noted that the current stocks of the drug Tamiflu are enough for 1% of the population, while additional quantities will be provided by the autumn, enough for 3% of the total population of Serbia.

Health Minister Tomica Milosavljevic said today that there is no reason to panic following the detection of the first case of the new H1N1 virus in Serbia.

Milosavljevic told B92 TV that health services are ready to react and that prevention of spreading the virus is most important at the moment.

Milosavljevic said that if citizens notive symptoms of regular flu, they should contact the epidemiolist.