The United States Center for Disease Control in Atlanta has confirmed that the swine flu strain found in San Diego and Texas is the same as that found in Mexico.

So far, eight people in Texas and California have become sick from the strange new virus, which has killed at least 20 people in Mexico. World health authorities are concerned that the virus could become a global epidemic. US scientists said the virus combines genetic material from pigs, birds and humans in a way researchers have not seen before.

In Atlanta, Dr. Richard Besser, the acting director of the CDC, said currently the outbreak was not considered to be a pandemic. He went on to say all eight flu case patients in the US had recovered.

(CCTV April 25, 2009)