San Jose - Costa Rican authorities confirmed Tuesday the first case of swine flu in the country, which would also be the first in Central America. Costa Rican Health Minister Maria Luisa Avila said the life of the patient - a 21-year-old woman who lives in the San Jose metropolitan area - was not at risk. Doctors were following her progress and the health and that of her relatives, the minister said.

Sacramento - California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday declared a state of emergency to help the largest and most populous state in the US deal with the outbreak of swine flu. "While there is no need for alarm, it is the governor's top priority to limit the swine flu's spread as quickly and effectively as possible and this action represents one more step being taken to strengthen California's response capabilities," said an announcement from Schwarzenegger's office.

Havana - Cuba suspended Tuesday all flights to and from Mexico for 48 hours to prevent spread of the flu virus which has caused 152 deaths in Mexico, including at least 20 from a newly emerging swine flu virus, Cuba's Public Health Minister Jose Ramon Balaguer said in a statement. The Cuban government said earlier Tuesday that no cases of swine flu had been reported in the country and that there were also no suspected cases, although they increased health surveillance at airports and ports.

Washington - US President Barack Obama is asking Congress for an added 1.5 billion dollars to fight the swine flu outbreak that has spread to five US states, his spokesman said Tuesday. The money will be used to "enhance the nation's capability to stop the spread," including stockpiling anti-viral drugs and develop and "ramp up production" of a vaccine, said Robert Gibbs.

Gibbs dismissed the suggestion that the money request indicated a new level of concern by the White House. "In our opinion, this is about prudent planning," he said.

Mexico City - The government of Mexico City banned eating in restaurants and ordered gyms, clubs, cabarets and billiards rooms to close, as measures to constrain the flu epidemic got tougher Tuesday. At least 152 people have died of flu in recent weeks in the North American country, but at the most only 20 deaths have been attributed to swine flu, raising further mystery about the other deaths.

But restaurants will still be allowed to sell meals to people who pick them up and eat them at home.