Flu delayed Spanish woman from learning of record lottery prize

BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhuanet) --The Spanish winner of the world¡¯s biggest ever-single lottery prize worth 126 million eurosawarded Friday, turned out to be awoman whodiscovered about the jackpotMonday becauseshe wasbed-ridden with flu, officials said.

A 25-year-old Spanish woman from the island of
Majorca was tracked downby officials Monday, online lottery seller
Serviapuestas said in a statement Tuesday.

"I was still sick on Monday so I decided to go to
work out of fear of losing my job given the economic crisis we are going
through," she was quoted as saying in the statement.

The woman was the only one to tick the five correct
numbers (4, 23, 24, 29, 31) and two stars (8, 9) and win the huge jackpot drawn
in Paris in a ticket which she bought through Serviapuestas.

"When she learned the news she was frightened and at
the same time very, very moved. Logically she asked us many questions," the
company said in the statement.

She also told Serviapuestas that when they first
contacted her "I thought they were pulling my leg.... I thought it was some
publicity."

The woman said she now plans to buy a country house
in Majorca and raise horses.

(Agencies)

A/H1N1 flu death toll rises to 29 in Mexico

Special Report:
World Tackles A/H1N1
Flu

MEXICO CITY, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Mexican health ministry announced three more confirmed deaths from A/H1N1 flu late Tuesday, bringing the national death toll to 29.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, the tally of confirmed infected patients is 942. It noted that the epidemic was waning in Mexico as it had peaked last week.

Health authorities were still carrying out tests on another 39 people who were suspected to die from the disease in the past weeks, the statement added.

Restaurants and shops in Mexico will reopen on Wednesday while universities and high schools will resume classes on Thursday.