MANILA - PHILIPPINE health authorities have reported the country's first cluster of domestic swine flu cases after a group of primary school students were infected in a remote northern village.

Eric Tayag, chief of the National Epidemiology Centre, said the 'community level outbreak' was declared on Sunday after 11 children in the village of Hilera on Luzon island were confirmed to have contracted the influenza A(H1N1) virus.

'We have declared a community outbreak,' in the area, Mr Tayag said in a radio interview on Monday. 'We are carrying out mitigation efforts.' The school will remain shut for the next 10 days, officials said.

It was not clear how the students in the isolated community of 1,600 people were infected, but officials said over 90 others who were in contact with the children have also shown flu-like symptoms.

The Philippines has reported a total of 147 confirmed cases of swine flu, but no deaths so far. -- AFP