South Korea Saturday reported its first confirmed case of influenza A/H1N1, amid a heightening alert against the deadly virus that is rapidly spreading across the globe.

The 51-year-old nun, who has been quarantined since Tuesday after returning from her recent trip to Mexico, was confirmed to be infected with the influenza, an official at the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs told the press.

She was among three probable flu patients reported this week. The two others are a 44-year-old woman living together with the nun and 57-year-old bus driver who did not travel to affected countries.

The confirmed case is raising concerns of the highly contagious disease in the country.

(Xinhua News Agency May 2, 2009)