The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed nine cases of influenzaA/H1N1, or the so-called swine flu, in the country's northwest Washington state, the state's officials announced on Tuesday.

"These nine confirmed swine flu cases are the first for Washington since the outbreak began," Washington state governor Chris Gregoire said in a statement.

The nine people who are confirmed cases are all recovering, local health officials said, noting that the state is likely to see more confirmed cases.

"We expect most of the probable cases in our state to be confirmed, as they have in other states," said Mary Selecky, the state's secretary of health.

The nine confirmed cases are "no surprise," Selecky said, given the fact that about 99 percent of probable samples sent by other states to the CDC have been tested positive.

Statewide, Washington now has at least 45 confirmed and suspected A/H1N1 cases in five counties, The Seattle Times newspaper reported Tuesday on its website.

Besides Washington, 38 other US states have been confirmed by the CDC to have the presence of A/H1N1 flu.

According to Selecky, the good news is that A/H1N1 flu seems no more severe than typical flu.

"As the disease investigation progresses, it appears this new flu strain is similar to seasonal flu in symptoms, treatment, and spread," she said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2009)