Iran's Ministry of Health on Monday announced the first case of influenza A/H1N1 in the country, the official IRNA news agency reported.

A 16-year-old teenager returning from the United States was tested positive, the report said, quoting Iran's Health Ministry.

The ministry advised the Iranian people to avoid unnecessary trips to countries such as Mexico, Canada, the Philippines, Thailand, Britain and Germany which witness a high rate of the novel flu.

As a means to confront the flu epidemic disease in the country, Iran has already established a committee which includes four ministers and two vice presidents.

The influenza A/H1N1 is a contagious respiratory disease which is a mixture of bird, pig and human gene. The virus can spread to people through contact with infected pigs and infected persons.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2009)