Klink stressed that the 700 million euros figure is "an educated guess" and a "worst-case scenario". It includes an order for 34 million Mexican flu vaccines which the Dutch government placed earlier this year – enough to inoculate everyone twice.

The Dutch cabinet will decide this week how to deal with the financial setback caused by the Mexican flu threat. Klink is hoping his colleagues, especially finance minister Wouter Bos, will be understanding and not expect him to cut other costs in the health budget. "It's a big amount but it's a one-time expense," Klink said after a cabinet meeting on Friday.

The health minister defended the expense by pointing out that if 30 percent of the population gets sick, as some projections have suggested, it will have a big impact on the national economy.

About 1,500 people have come down with the Mexican flu so far. According to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) the spread of the Mexican flu in the Netherlands is still "limited" but rising. Last week Tuesday, only a thousand cases had been reported.

The cost of the fight against the Mexican flu will depend on how the virus develops, Klink added.