Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos said late on Monday that "probable" deaths toll from swine flu rose to 152 in the country.

Cordova announced the number, including both confirmed and suspected swine flu cases, at a news conference.

The figure was three more than the 149 deaths as announced by the government earlier Monday.

Cordova said the National Health Service was figuring out whether the three new cases of death were caused by the H1N1 virus.

While was interviewed by local TV also on Monday, the minister said the mortality in the recent 24 hours was lower than the previous days, signaling for the first time that the threat from swine flu was likely to be weaker.