swine flu outbreak appeared to be easing on Saturday with a decrease in serious cases, the government said, but world health officials warned the unpredictable virus could still become a pandemic. "Each day there are fewer serious cases and the mortality has been decreasing," Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told a news conference in Mexico City, where millions were heeding government advice to stay at home. Of the more than 100 suspected deaths from the new H1N1 virus that have emerged in the Latin American nation, 19 had been confirmed, Cordova said. Mexico had already scaled back from its original estimate of 176 suspected deaths. However, new cases of the mongrel virus, which mixes swine, avian and human flu strains, were still being tracked across the world. Costa Rica, Italy and Ireland confirmed cases of the disease, 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 required before the pandemic alert is raised to its highest level. But it said that would probably happen soon. "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. Mexico, the country hardest hit by the virus, called the action "unjustified" and advised its citizens to avoid travel to China. China's Foreign Ministry had no immediate response.
In Hong Kong, police quarantined a hotel after a Mexican guest fell ill with the virus. Mexico, the country hardest hit by the virus, called the action "unjustified" and advised its citizens to avoid travel to China. China's Foreign Ministry had no immediate response.
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