H1N1 Spreading Deeper In Americas, Europe

Officials Cautiously Optimistic Virus Isn’t As Dangerous As First Feared; Mexican Official Says Flu Is In "Declining Phase"

(CBS/AP)  The H1N1 epidemic spread deeper into the United States, Europe and Latin America - and in Canada, back to pigs - even as Mexico's health chief hinted Sunday it may soon be time to reopen businesses and schools in the nation where the outbreak likely began.

The virus spread to Colombia in the first confirmed case in South America, worrisome because flu season is about to begin in the Southern Hemisphere. More cases were confirmed in Europe and North America; health officials said at least 937 people have been sickened worldwide.

Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said H1N1 (swine) flu is spreading just as easily as regular winter flu.

"The good news is when we look at this virus right now, we're not seeing some of the things in the virus that have been associated in the past with more severe flu," Besser said. "That's encouraging, but it doesn't mean we're out of the woods yet."

"It's a rapidly evolving situation, and it's still one that is cloaked in uncertainty," Besser said on CBS' Face The Nation. "But each day we’re getting more information … and we’re starting to see encouraging signs."

On Sunday, health officials raised the number of confirmed U.S. swine flu cases to 244 in 34 states. The new number, up from 160 on Saturday, reflects streamlining in federal procedures and the results of tests by states, which have only recently begun confirming cases, said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC.

Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said the virus that has killed 19 people in Mexico and sickened at least 506 apparently peaked here between April 23 and April 28. A drastic nationwide shutdown appears to have helped prevent the outbreak from becoming more serious, he said.

"The evolution of the epidemic is now in its declining phase," Cordova declared.

He said officials would decide Monday whether to extend the shutdown or allow schools and businesses to reopen on Wednesday.

Pablo Kuri, an epidemiologist advising Cordova, told The Associated Press on Sunday that tests have confirmed a swine flu death in Mexico City on April 11, two days earlier than what had been believed to be the first death.

He also said there have been no deaths among health care workers treating swine flu patients in Mexico, an indication that the virus may not be as contagious or virulent as initially feared.

The closed events made for a surreal Sunday in Mexico, as parishioners celebrated Mass via television, camera operators were the only ones in stadium bleachers and parks, museums, restaurants, theaters and other attractions were closed.

Sunday also marked the official start of campaigning for July 5 congressional elections - but all public campaigning was banned to prevent gatherings where the virus could spread.

Gabriela Cuevas Barron of the conservative National Action Party giddily claimed she was launching Mexico's first virtual campaign, promising in a Webcast to work for a cleaner and safer Mexico City for now, through Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Meanwhile, the leftist Democratic Revolution Party was already up with a Facebook page for its candidates.

The United States said it had sent 100,000 protection kits worth $1 million to Mexico for use by first responders. The kits include respiratory masks, protective goggles and overalls. In all, the U.S. has sent $16 million in aid to Mexico since the emergency began, the U.S. Embassy said.

CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano reported that 470 schools have closed in at least 18 states, stranding some 270,000 children at home.

Officials in New Mexico announced Sunday that 14 schools in four towns were being closed for at least a week after the state's first swine flu case was confirmed, and the New Mexico Activities Association suspended all athletic and activity programs until further notice at member schools across the state.

In Arizona, all 10 public schools in the border city of Nogales canceled classes this week after a student tested positive for swine flu.

California officials, meanwhile, suspended all visitations at prisons pending results of tests on an ill inmate at Centinela State Prison.

In the Canadian province of Alberta, officials quarantined about 220 pigs that became infected from a worker who had recently returned from Mexico. It was the first documented case of the H1N1 virus being passed from a human to another species. Canada stressed that pigs often get the flu and there's no danger in eating pork.

Egypt has ordered all pigs in the country slaughtered as a precaution, sparking riots Sunday by pig farmers who threw stones at police.

According to tallies by the CDC, World Health Organization and governments, there were 101 confirmed cases of swine flu in Canada; 40 in Spain; 18 in Britain; eight in Germany; four in New Zealand; two each in Italy, France, Israel, and South Korea; one each in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Hong Kong, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Fear spread in other parts of the globe, much of it directed at Mexican nationals or those who have traveled to Mexico.

China quarantined more than 70 Mexican travelers in hospitals and hotels there, and Mexicans on arriving flights were being taken into isolation, said Mexico's ambassador, Jorge Guajardo. Even the Mexican consul in Guangzhou was briefly held after returning from a vacation in Cambodia, Guajardo said.

"In many cases we have gotten reports that they were being quarantined for the sole fact that they had a Mexican passport, whether or not they came from Mexico, whether or not they had been in Mexico, whether or not they had been in contact with someone else from Mexico," Guajardo said.

Hong Kong isolated 350 people in a hotel after a Mexican traveler there was determined to have the swine flu.

In Trinidad, crew aboard a Mexican tanker had been isolated since Friday at the Point Lisas Port. The Ministry of Health said Sunday they were tested and cleared of any flu infection and that the vessel was expected to be released.

Health officials around the world cautioned that despite encouraging signs, swine flu still poses a very real threat.

"Most experts would agree that the current outbreak that we are experiencing is mild to moderate in severity," Dr. Jon Andrus of the Pan American Health Organization said in a teleconference from Washington. "That is not to say that things cannot change very rapidly and very dramatically."

Under one scenario, the virus could peter out now, only to roar back in the fall when flu seasons begins. That's why health officials are watching the Southern Hemisphere so closely.

"Certainly, maybe, this current round of activity has peaked, but we are only 10 days into this outbreak," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told reporters in Switzerland. "I think we would want to wait a while before making a definitive decision."

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2009 H1N1 Flu Outbreak Map:
This is a map depicting confirmed and suspected cases of the 2009 H1N1 outbreak, with contributors from all over the world, from a variety of backgrounds including health, journalism, technology.

[janieanddeb]

Its too late now anyways to close the borders. It all could be related to tourism . I quess that by how close the cases are to where there people who have the finacial resourses to travel to Mexico , otherwise the pattern would be closer to the border.

Its now time to moniter the virus and the farming by American done in Mexico.
could it be the farming is done there away form prying eyes of American

.

[gonesouthern]

People are more nasty than pigs in many ways...
If you cook your meat correctly and wash your hands after contact with raw meat you should have no worries.
On the other hand (so to speak) when you come in contact with humans it's not so easy to stay safe is it ??

[frank-e1]

U dont get the H1N! virus from PIGS!! People just overreacting and a money thing. I work on a farm and I get cover with cow manure every day and I havent got anything bad diease from a cow yet. Plus I dont get sick! Its just all HYPE! Plus I spread liquid pig manure everyday plus contact with pigs and I havent got sick so HA you cant get it from pigs! Stop scarying the public. Its just making the economy more daze. Pigs are not a source of the H1N1. If it was there will be more deaths. We only have 1 death jeez. More kids are killed by furniture then this plus adults theres cancer that kills more. Its just flu. If u do all the right things to keep your self clean and wash your hands everytime use something dirty or old or chemicals or restrooms you wont get sick.

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Well that settles it Johnny -- use your own computer keyboard!

[txlakeside]

davic .... ROFLMAO .... did you even read the article? Have you seen NPR? Seen any other NEWS?

"In the Canadian province of Alberta, officials quarantined about 220 pigs that became infected from a worker who had recently returned from Mexico. It was the first documented case of the H1N1 virus being passed from a human to another species. Canada stressed that pigs often get the flu and there's no danger in eating pork."

If that is not a reported case I am at a loss as to what is! And even if a PIG gets it you will not get the flu from eating pork! Some folks are just dumb as dirt!

[panhandlpete]

I hope that this has been helpful and wish all who are ill a speedy recovery!
Posted by Cash1524 at 7:05 PM : May 3, 2009

Your post contained lots of practical advice for those who wish to "take care of themselves" on their own. Instead of the 2 quarts of chicken soup.....purchased......I would highly recommend that someone make a pot of FRESH homemade chicken soup (which is what I do) and in it I put loads of garlic, onions, celery, carrots, thin noodles, and lots of peppers (salt optional). I remove the chicken prior to putting the noodles in the pot, debone it and return it to pot. Drain off the fluids for drinking if eating solid foods is not possible.

Pig Farmers (the big corporations) are catching the focus now, and suffering from all the poor reporting, as pork prices soar in the near future, will we be able to afford the breakfast sausage?? Are chickens the next target? Or, was this all a hoop-la hype to get the Tamiflu in stock sold before the expiration date? Remember, how rice was pulled from the grocery shelves, a shortage created, prices rose over 50%, and now there is plenty of rice. What and who is playing with our food supply?

[Schmiedeknecht45]

U dont get the H1N! virus from PIGS!! People just overreacting and a money thing. I work on a farm and I get cover with cow manure every day and I havent got anything bad diease from a cow yet. Plus I dont get sick! Its just all HYPE! Plus I spread liquid pig manure everyday plus contact with pigs and I havent got sick so HA you cant get it from pigs! Stop scarying the public. Its just making the economy more daze. Pigs are not a source of the H1N1. If it was there will be more deaths. We only have 1 death jeez. More kids are killed by furniture then this plus adults theres cancer that kills more. Its just flu. If u do all the right things to keep your self clean and wash your hands everytime use something dirty or old or chemicals or restrooms you wont get sick.

[didserve]

Yawn!

This is all a drummed up media hype!

More people die from spoiled milk than this flu!

This is a political diversion from the fact that America is guilty of war crimes!

[lucytomato]

It's only 6 years after SARS epidemic ,we still have more and more problem with AIDS,bird flu or BSE.six billon people engoy their life in the earth now,most of other lives struggle for their lives now ,and the nather is angrying now !!

[hardhatj]

what do you expect when the U.S has no immigration control from the main source of the pandemic? God forbid sealing off the border, because that would be considered racist against Mexicans who have a right to illegally live in the U.S

[stn_sage]

I do NOT agree with you. Everything went "GLOBAL". The world problems are ours now and our problems are the world's problems.
Posted by al2212 at 8:27 PM : May 3, 2009
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That's OK, we'll have to agree to disagree! But---

First, there's certainly a concerted effort to try to MAKE everything a global problem amongst all nations, though it is not a reality---YET!

Second, the last time I looked, this nation is called the United States of America, not the 'World Nation of One' or any such monstrosity like this!

Third, my primary concern remains and is unchanged by anything you've said, in that, our government is failing to handle America's problems, it IS NOT equipped to handle EVERYONE else's---as you'd like!

Fourth, if you are asserting that the government is responsible---in some way----for the spread of disease in the world---it may or may not be---that STILL does not equip the people of the U.S. to handle the problems of the rest of the world!

Finally, my overall point is: that tens of millions of Americans need help! Until, we get our own 'house in order' we shouldn't be taking on massive external problems!