"Takeout Only" Ordered For Mexico Eateries

(CBS/AP)  Restaurants in Mexico City are being ordered to serve only takeout food in a widening shutdown to prevent the spread of a deadly swine flu outbreak.

Mexico City Interior Secretary Jose Angel Avila says all restaurants are prohibited from serving customers inside their establishments.

He said Tuesday the measure is meant to prevent people from gathering in close proximity and spreading a virus that has already killed as many as 152 people across Mexico.

Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard is ordering gyms, sports clubs, swimming pools and pool halls closed.

The shutdown also includes movie theaters, zoos and museums. Schools are closed nationwide.

In all, 1,995 people in Mexico have gotten pneumonia, though swine flu has not yet been confirmed. Of the 152 deaths, only 20 have been definitively linked to swine flu.

The World Health Organization raised its health alert to Phase 4 Monday, indicating the disease spreads easily but isn't yet a pandemic. World governments have been taking precautions, such as travel restrictions and warnings, though global health officials warned those measures were doing nothing to stop the virus' advance.

Meanwhile, U.S. scientists hope to have a key ingredient for a swine flu vaccine ready in early May, but even if all goes well, it still will take months before any shots are available for the necessary safety testing in volunteers.

In the U.S., health officials say the number of confirmed swine flu cases has jumped to 64.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that the new count includes "a number of hospitalizations" but they did not say how many. CDC officials had said there had been just one person hospitalized.

The cases are still only in the five states where they previously were reported. There are 17 new cases in New York City, four more in Texas and three additional cases in California.

That brings the total confirmed cases to 45 in New York City, 10 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio.

[barbaram99]

There is too many people. The homeless everywhere. Now this air borne mess. People couge all over each other. That is why we hate to go out. Wait for the bus,or what ever. They cough,spit.etc. They need to stop sptting every where and this a nation wide problem.. It is rude,nasty,and unhealthy. No I don't do it..People know they should cover the mouth. wash hands but an air borne virus ..I don't want it. A mask it can't keep it out. What can.

[toldyouso29]

What a crock of cr@pola! Wash your hands 4-6 times a day and you'll never catch a cold or flu again! Dirty hands spread disease more effectively than ANY OTHER METHOD. Handwashing prevents the spread of disease more effectively and for less money than ANY OTHER METHOD!
Posted by limobarbie at 3:07 PM : Apr 28, 2009


Except influenza is air borne. This means when a person sneezes billions of viral particles are ejected into the air at around 70 mph. These droplets and particles are then carried on the wind and if they come in contact with any mucosal lining (eyes, nose, mouth) you have a very good chance of coming down with the flu--clean hands or not. Clean hands do stop a lot of germs and help to minimize contagion of touching where others have sneezed or coughed--but it does NOTHING to protect anyone from airborne viruses--neither does wearing any type of mask with the nose uncovered--or even wearing most masks.

What they don't tell people is that most viruses are so small, that they can pass between the openings in a .05 micron filter, compared to that, the holes in a gauze mask are the size of basketballs. Or to get another idea, about 10,000 or more viruses can be on he head of s pin. Viruses ARE minimized by sanitized environments but mostly by isolating oneself from the ill--hence the need for the restaurants to close (to minimize large gatherings) but the restaurants should not serve food either.

[barbaram99]

toldyouso..That is right. They that wear the mask need to tuck their nose in side it. The sick should stay home. Take out is better than eating in. I would not buy food from a sick person fixing it for me. I would walk out. I can't cook as it is not safe for me to. The abled bodied can. My Maine upbringing was if yer sick yer stay home. Wash hands and cover yer mouth then wash yer hands. i am a sp needs person and no i don't want it. People need to think of others and not pass it around if possable.

[limobarbie]

What a crock of cr@pola! Wash your hands 4-6 times a day and you'll never catch a cold or flu again! Dirty hands spread disease more effectively than ANY OTHER METHOD. Handwashing prevents the spread of disease more effectively and for less money than ANY OTHER METHOD!

[toldyouso29]

How stupid.... short sighted. and ineffective.
As if those who prepare the food cannot also be ill or carry the virus--and as if they cannot cough, sneeze on the tortillas, salsa , fruit or other food before they pack an order up.

Lazy people: in the face of an epidemic--stay at home, cook your own food, wash your hands frequently, get water from sanitized sources and stop trying to act like you don't know how germs are spread!!!!

[tivis3]

What about all the foods and veggies the U.S. gets from Mexico that the "FDA/USDA" are suppossed to be inspecting and evaluating for our safety?

As we all know, these agencies are not doing their job (Obama's comments). Whats next, a quaranntine of all imports until the Feds get their act together?

Chip-Sarasota