SYDNEY (AFP) -- Australia is set to raise its swine flu alert level as the number of people hit by the pandemic continues to rise, Health Minister Nicola Roxon said on Sunday.

With the national tally at nearly 1,500 cases with seven in intensive care, Roxon said the whole country would soon move to the “sustain” phase in line with hotspot state Victoria.
“As the numbers gradually increase in jurisdictions there will be steps over the coming days to move to a consistent alert level,” Roxon said.
“It’s inevitable that the disease will spread -- that’s the nature of this type of flu -- and we know in most cases it will be very mild and people will recover quite quickly, and often in a number of days and often without any medical intervention,” she said.
The “sustain” phase, Australia’s second-highest, gives authorities the power to cancel sports events, close schools and restrict travel, although officials say extreme measures such as closing national borders are unlikely.
Swine flu has exploded in Australia this month, helping persuade the World Health Organization to declare its first global pandemic in 40 years.
Some 1,458 cases have been counted here, including top rugby league players. On Sunday, the national under-21 lacrosse squad was to be placed in individual isolation in a South Korean hotel after one member tested positive.
Some students and staff at Adelaide’s exclusive Westminster School were also quarantined after a 15-year-old boarder was confirmed with the disease, reports said.
Australia, now entering the southern hemisphere winter, is the worst hit Asia-Pacific country and has the fifth highest number of cases worldwide.