Greek mystery virus spreads

Hospitals are on high alert and expecting more cases to be reported

ATHENS, Greece -- A mystery virus sweeping across Greece has claimed more victims taking the number of sufferers to 36.

But health chiefs said the new cases of the bug, which is being blamed for at least three deaths, is receding.

All the country's schools and universities have been closed in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus, whose symptoms include fever, muscle pain, headaches and fatigue. (Full story)

Two women are thought to have died on the island of Crete and another in the northern Greek town of Ioannina after contracting the virus.

A health ministry statement said on Thursday: "If the rate of reporting of new cases remains over the next few days at the same levels, then we can talk about a decline."

Of the seven new cases reported on Thursday, one has already been discharged from hospital, the ministry said.

Of the 29 previously recorded cases, 22 people were in hospital, with 14 expected to be discharged over the next few days.

The ministry has also advised people to avoid enclosed spaces and practice good personal hygiene.

Hospitals around the country have been warned to expect an increase in patients seeking medical help

In Athens municipal sports hall and youth and social centres are also shut until Friday at the earliest.

But the Greek Orthodox church has reacted angrily to media suggestions that taking Holy Communion -- the symbolic sipping of wine representing the blood of Christ -- could spread the virus because church-goers tend to use the same spoon as each other.

"It should be considered blasphemous, to say the least, to consider it possible that epidemic ailments could be transferred through holy communion and endanger human life," the Athens diocese said in a statement released to Reuters news agency.