Governor M. Jodi Rell announced Sunday that she has directed the state Department of Public Health to closely monitor the swine flu cases that have been reported in Mexico and several U.S. states, including New York.

Rell said the DPH has asked infectious disease physicians and emergency room directors to be alert and submit samples to the DPH Laboratory for testing from Connecticut patients who are experiencing flu-like symptoms and have traveled recently to affected areas. DPH is asking people to take normal precautions against catching the flu such as washing their hands, coughing into a tissue and contacting their doctors if they feel they have the flu.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs that people typically do not contact but human infections can occur. Most infections happen to people who have been around pigs but it's possible for the virus to spread from person to person. Swine flu can not be contracted by eating properly cooked pork products.