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Flu pandemic still likely but Mexico toll drops
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 02 - 05 - 2009


Mexico's flu outbreak
appeared to be stabilizing today but officials warned the
unpredictable virus still threatens a global pandemic, according to Reuters.
Mexican officials said hospitals were seeing fewer new
cases of people with symptoms from the new swine flu virus and
cut the estimated death toll from the outbreak.
"It would still be imprudent to say that we're past the
worst of it but I do think ... we are in a stage of
stabilization," Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told
reporters.
In addition, Costa Rica, Italy, and Ireland confirmed
cases of the virus, which has now been found in 18 countries.
In Geneva, the World Health Organization said H1N1
influenza had not spread in a sustained way outside North
America, as would be required before the pandemic alert level
is raised to its highest level -- but said this would probably
still happen.
"I would still propose that a pandemic is imminent because
we are seeing the disease spread," Michael Ryan, WHO Director
of Global Alert and Response, told a briefing.
Few are ready to take chances with the new virus, widely
dubbed swine flu.
In Hong Kong, police quarantined a hotel after a Mexican
guest fell ill with the virus, which may have killed more than
100 people in Mexico, the worst hit country.
Mexico called the action "unjustified" and advised its
citizens to avoid travel to China.
Mexican authorities cut their suspected death toll to up to
101 from as many as 176 as more test samples came back
negative. Fewer patients with severe flu symptoms were checking
into hospitals, suggesting a falling infection rate, and no new
deaths were reported in Mexico City in the last two days.
The World Health Organization said on Saturday 15 countries
have reported 615 infections, not including the later reports
of confirmed cases in Ireland, Italy and Costa Rica.
The United States, the second hardest hit country, said it
had confirmed 160 cases in 21 states.
U.S. officials said they were encouraged by reports from
Mexico that the outbreak may be leveling off, although they
said it was too early to relax.
"We are remaining vigilant," said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the
CDC. "We have seen times where things appear to be getting
better and then get worse again ... I think in Mexico we may be
holding our breath for some time."
Almost all infections outside Mexico have been mild. The
only death in another country has been a Mexican toddler who
was taken to the United States before he fell sick.
President Barack Obama said the United States was
responding aggressively to the new flu strain and was closing
some schools temporarily and distributing antiviral drug
supplies as needed.


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