An outbreak of swine flu in two south - eastern provinces of Iran has killed at least 33 people , with warnings that it is likely to spread in the coming days to Tehran , West and East Azerbaijan and Kermanshah Province , amongst other regions . Swine flu is a strain of the human virus known as H1N1 , which originated in Mexico in 2009 and has rapidly spread around the world . Swine flu is a strain of the influenza virus known as H1N1. Local reports suggest that around 600 people have received hospital treatment in the past three weeks after contracting the virus . Iran 's Deputy Health Minister , Ali Akbar Sayyari has called for limited travel during a three - day holiday weekend , which is due to start on Thursday , in order to prevent the spread of the virus .
An outbreak of swine flu in two south - eastern provinces of Iran has killed at least 33 people , with warnings that it is likely to spread in the coming days to Tehran , West and East Azerbaijan and Kermanshah Province , amongst other regions . Swine flu is a strain of the human virus known as H1N1 , which originated in Mexico in 2009 and has rapidly spread around the world . Local reports suggest that around 600 people have received hospital treatment in the past three weeks after contracting the virus . Iran 's Deputy Health Minister , Ali Akbar Sayyari has called for limited travel during a three - day holiday weekend , which is due to start on Thursday , in order to prevent the spread of the virus .