A national committee set up to coordinate the response to outbreaks of swine flu in Greece yesterday called for the vaccination of elderly and frail citizens.

The committee met with Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos after the number of H1N1 cases diagnosed in Greece reached 21. Experts called for compulsory vaccination, as soon as it is available, for those aged over 65 and for those over 55 who suffer from diabetes, serious respiratory or heart problems and arteriosclerosis.

The number of H1N1 cases in Greece reached 21 over the weekend with the diagnosis of a 10-year-old child who arrived in Greece from the US and a 20-year-old Peruvian who arrived in Athens from New York. With an increasing number of tourists arriving in Greece, authorities have asked hotel managers to ensure that visitors with symptoms of the flu are transfered to hospital immediately.