The first two British cases of swine flu were confirmed tonight with another seven people showing possible symptoms of the disease.

The first two British cases of swine flu were confirmed tonight with another seven people showing possible symptoms of the disease.

The two people, who had been on holiday in Mexico, were tonight being treated in isolation at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

A further seven people who had been in contact with them are showing "mild symptoms", said Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

More than 100 people have been killed in Mexico by the disease, which is caused when the H1N1 strain associated with pigs crosses over to the human population.

The UK cases were confirmed hours after all EU countries were summoned to Brussels for urgent talks on the outbreak as officials in Spain also verified Europe's first case.

Tonight, Ms Sturgeon told a press conference in Edinburgh that both patients in the UK were "recovering well".

She added: "I would reiterate that the threat to the public remains low and that the precautionary actions we have taken over the last two days have been important in allowing us to respond appropriately and give us the best prospect of disrupting the spread of the virus.

"However, this is a developing situation which we continue to monitor very closely, in conjunction with our colleagues in other parts of the UK and the World Health Organisation."

A statement from the World Health Organisation is expected shortly.

The infected pair arrived in Scotland on April 21 and were admitted to hospital after showing symptoms.

The Scottish Government is encouraging people to take simple infection control precautions such as hand-washing and covering their mouth when they cough or sneeze.

It is liaising with NHS boards north of the border and has significant stockpiles of two anti-viral drugs - Tamiflu and Relenza - both of which have been effective in treating the H1N1 strain of swine flu in other countries.

Britons arriving back in the UK from Mexico have been questioned by a doctor before leaving the aircraft.

The European Union's health commissioner Andorra Vassiliou met EU foreign ministers on the subject and advised people to reassess their travel plans.

U.S President Barack Obama said the threat of spreading swine flu infections was a cause for concern but "not a cause for alarm" as the country began border monitoring to contain the illness.

The US has declared a national health emergency in the midst of uncertainty about whether the mounting sick count - 1,600 or more in Mexico alone - were ongoing infections or merely resulted from health officials missing something that had been simmering for weeks or months.

A Canadian woman being treated for suspected swine flu in Manchester is "highly unlikely" to have contracted the illness, it emerged earlier tonight.

Chief Medical Officer for Scotland Dr Harry Burns said that until proven otherwise, the virus has to be taken seriously - although only mild symptoms of the virus have been confirmed.

He said: "We have definite plans for identifying the virus and preventing the spread. These plans will be co-ordinated across the UK."

He told Sky News that people who have been in contact with the virus were given anti-viral medication.

"I do know that the two individuals we have seen are really quite well now and have improved substantially even in the course of today," he added.

The BBC described the pair as a couple from Falkirk in Central Scotland.

The Scottish Government said due to patient confidentiality they could not confirm anything which would lead to the identity of the couple, who were described as being "not particularly ill".

UK Health Secretary Alan Johnson said 17 of 25 possible cases reported in the UK were being investigated.

He told the Commons eight of the 25 cases had proved negative.

As well as cases in Mexico, the United States, Canada and Spain, there were also suspected cases in New Zealand, France, Israel and Australia.

Leading bacteriologist Professor Hugh Pennington said the unknown nature of the swine flu virus may delay the "all clear" from danger.

He said: "It's a new virus - we've never before seen this combination of swine virus and human virus genes."

"It's very difficult to make any predictions when its not like any flu virus before."

Efforts must be made to trace all those who have been in contact with infected individuals, Prof Pennington added.

The problem is further compounded by the fact some individuals can get infected without developing any symptoms - but then spread the virus to others who then fall ill.