The government of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Monday upgraded Macao's flu epidemic alert to third level, as the swine flu outbreak in Mexico is spreading to more nations around the world.

The third level of flu alert means that person-to-person virus transmission has occurred in places distant from Macao, according to the joint-department flu epidemic precaution group, which held an emergent meeting on Monday as officials from various SAR government departments reviewed the ongoing swine flu abroad and discussed local precaution measures.

As the alert level was upgraded, the SAR will adopt a series of measure such as strengthening flu monitoring, preparing testing system, beefing up border checkpoint regulations, establishing quarantined area in local hospitals, said Chui Sai On, the SAR's secretary for social affairs and culture, who also chairs the joint-department group.

Previously, the SAR's Health Bureau has ordered local hospitals and medical institutions to report suspected flu cases to the authorities.

Chui also called upon local residents to follow the guidance from the Health Bureau and maintain a constant standard of personal hygiene, adding that the SAR government will purchase more medicines and equipment if necessary.

The human-infecting swine flu outbreak, firstly occurred in Mexico where more than 1,600 suspected cases have been reported, killed over 100 locals there, and it is spreading to more countries and regions around the world, as the United States and Canada have confirmed at least 20 and six cases respectively and suspected cases were reported in Europe, Israel, Brazil and New Zealand, according to the figures from the WHO.

Chui said that the SAR government will keep in close contact with the WHO Western Pacific Regional Headquarters, China's Ministry of Public Health, and health departments of China's Hong Kong SAR and Guangdong province. Officials of Macao's Health Bureau will hold a video conference with their counterparts in China's Ministry of Public Health and Hong Kong on Tuesday, activating the public health emergency communication system.