Five people in Australia New South Wales (NSW) will be tested for swine influenza, with the results expected by the week's end, NSW Health said on Monday.

"We are saying that they are suspected cases. But obviously we are acting in a precautionary way and asking them to remain isolated," NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant told reporters in Sydney.

Chant said public health units have been focusing attention on people who had visited the United States, Canada and Mexico in the past seven days and who had developed flu-like illnesses.

Health Minister John Della Bosca said that NSW Health would continue to monitor the situation and work with the federal Department of Health to keep the community informed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned on Sunday that an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico has spread to other countries.

The number of suspected swine flu cases has risen to 1,614, including 103 deaths, Mexico announced early Monday.

(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2009)