Port of Spain - The number of swine flu cases in Trinidad and Tobago has risen to 59, the Health Ministry reported Saturday.

"The number of confirmed cases of the influenza A(H1N1) cases spiked to 59 on Saturday, with 22 new confirmed cases within 3 days," health officials said.

Of the confirmed cases, the ministry said that 37 patients have already recovered. Authorities on the Caribbean island also noted, however, that "the virus is spreading a lot faster than expected."

The World Health Organisation says nearly 60 000 cases of the virus have now been recorded globally, with 263 deaths. -AFP