(Adds detail)
MEXICO CITY, May 3 (Reuters) - Mexico's H1N1 flu virus epidemic has passed its peak and is declining, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said on Sunday.
"The evolution of the epidemic is now in its phase of descent," Cordova told a news conference. He said the outbreak appeared to have peaked in Mexico between April 23 and 28.
Although new cases of the flu virus, which mixes swine, avian and human flu strains, continue to be confirmed around the world, Mexico has presented data in the last couple of days showing a decline in serious flu cases and fewer sick people being admitted to hospital.
"There is evidence that we are going downward," Cordova said.
Mexican health authorities have scaled back their estimate of how many people could have died from the new flu strain to more than 100, from as many as 176. Only 19 deaths in the country have been confirmed as being caused by the new virus. (Reporting by Louise Egan and Luis Rojas Mena; editing by Mohammad Zargham)