The number of people diagnosed with swine flu rose sharply this week, with 62 new cases being reported since Tuesday.

By Friday lunchtime, 273 people have been diagnosed with the disease, the national health institute RIVM said.
Nevertheless, RIVM director Roel Coutinho said the spread of the disease in the Netherlands was still limited and there is no reason to take extra precautionary steps or call off events where large crowds are expected to gather.
Experts said earlier they expected a rapid increase in cases in the Netherlands after the summer break.