The following is an update of some of the most important recent developments regarding the swine flu outbreak:* The World Health Organization raised its alert level for the outbreak to 4, which means that person-to-person infection is occurring and governments should be ready to deal with local outbreaks. One WHO official said that the outbreak may turn out to be a “very mild pandemic”. Yet the WHO also warned that it could become a very deadly global pandemic akin to the 1918 flu outbreak which killed over ten million people.
* Mexican officials reported that the swine flu death toll there has grown to approximately 152 people. Thus, Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard announced today that all movie theaters, convention centers and museums would be closed. In addition, Ebrard ordered that all restaurants serve take-out service only until May 5th.
* Several Latin American countries are on high health alert and taking cautionary steps to prevent the spreading on the disease. Cuba will severely limit flights from Mexico and Peru has “initiated a nationwide precautionary plan”. Nevertheless, there may be eight possible cases of swine flu in Chile and eleven travelers with flu-like symptoms in Brazil.
* U.S. health officials raised the total of swine flu cases to 64 in the states of New York (45), California (10), Texas (6), Kansas (2), and Ohio (1). Canada, Israel, France, New Zealand, Costa Rica and South Korea reported new cases today. Several countries including the U.S. and Canada have urged their citizens to avoid nonessential travel to Mexico.
* The origin of the outbreak has led some scientists to center on the southern state of Oaxaca where the first case was detected. Yet residents in one town in the Gulf state of Veracruz have blamed a U.S.-owned firm that runs several pig breeding farms.
Image- Guardian UK
Online Sources- Too many to list!
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