TEGUCIGALPA (Honduras) - HONDURAN health officials say two suspected swine flu patients have fled from a public hospital in the capital of Tegucigalpa.

Hospital director Ruben Palma says the men refused to remain hospitalised and disappeared on Monday as doctors awaited their test results.

Mr Palma declined to identify the two patients, both of whom spent several days in the Thorax Institute hospital before escaping. One of the men had recently been deported from the United States.

Honduras has reported two confirmed cases of swine flu, not including the two patients.

Mr Palma complained that the hospital does not have security measures to prevent patients from escaping. -- AP