Chinese leader confident of containing flu

BEIJING, April 30 (UPI) -- China's health minister expressed confidence that the country could prevent and contain the H1N1 flu, or swine flu, virus.

So far, China hasn't reported a confirmed case of H1N1 infection, China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported Thursday.

Eleven countries officially reported 257 cases of swine flu, the World Health Organization in Geneva reported Thursday.

If a case is suspected, the patient will be quarantined until the type of flu infection is confirmed, Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu said.

"(Based) on the effective working experience to combat bird flu in the past few years, we are confident and capable of preventing and containing H1N1 influenza epidemic." Chen said during a news conference. "We have to take into consideration the worst possibilities while making the best preparations."