BEIJING - CHINA has 100 confirmed cases of swine flu, state media said on Tuesday, as data from the World Health Organization showed the disease had spread to 73 countries.

'The health ministry has reported... that so far, China has 100 confirmed cases of A(H1N1) flu,' said a news report on state television CCTV.

China confirmed its first case of the illness - which has killed 139 people in six countries - on May 11, but it has so far recorded no deaths.

According to the latest data by the WHO, 73 countries have officially reported a total of 25,288 cases. -- AFP