Japan confirmed its first three cases of N1H1, or swine flu Friday, according to Japan's Kyodo news agency reports.

The first three cases are three males, a high school teacher and two teenage students who had visited Canada on a school trip.

All three were quarantined after showing flu symptoms and tested positive in a primary test on the plane, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Earlier Friday, officials in Mexico confirmed one more death from swine flu, raising its death toll from the outbreak to 45.

Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said they are 159 more cases confirmed of swine flu Friday, bringing the total number of people in Mexico sickened by the virus to 1,319.

The United States has 1,639 confirmed cases, including two deaths.

The World Health Organization said Friday that there are 2,500 confirmed cases of the H1N1 influenza virus in 25 countries across the globe.

In Canada, officials have reported at least 233 confirmed cases, including one death linked to the disease.

The WHO said Friday it plans to keep its global pandemic alert at phase 5.

We still remain the alert in stage five. We have no evidence of community transmission, said Sylvie Briand, acting director of WHO's global influenza program.

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