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Mexico flu outbreak kills dozens Mexico flu outbreak kills dozens
(40 minutes later)
Dozens of people have died and hundreds of others have been infected in a viral outbreak in Mexico suspected to have been caused by a strain of swine flu.Dozens of people have died and hundreds of others have been infected in a viral outbreak in Mexico suspected to have been caused by a strain of swine flu.
The WHO says it believes the virus is behind 60 deaths, mostly in and around the capital since mid-March. The UN's health agency, the World Health Organization, believes the virus is behind 60 deaths, mostly in and around the capital, since mid-March.
Mexican authorities have closed schools in affected areas and a vaccination campaign is being launched. Local schools have been closed and a vaccination campaign is being launched.
Seven non-fatal cases of a new form of swine flu have also been confirmed in the southern United States.Seven non-fatal cases of a new form of swine flu have also been confirmed in the southern United States.
Experts will carry out tests to determine if the two viruses are linked. An official from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told the Associated Press news agency that there was no confirmation of any link between the two outbreaks.
The White House said it was following the US outbreak - in California and Texas - closely.
'Mutated from pigs''Mutated from pigs'
WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said "unusual end of season influenza activity" was noticed in Mexico starting from the end of March. WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said "unusual end-of-season influenza activity" had been noticed in Mexico starting from the end of March.
Fifty-seven people had died in Mexico City from flu-like symptoms, she said, and another three in San Luis Potosi in central Mexico. There are around 800 suspected cases, she said.Fifty-seven people had died in Mexico City from flu-like symptoms, she said, and another three in San Luis Potosi in central Mexico. There are around 800 suspected cases, she said.
The Mexican government said swine flu had been confirmed in at least 16 deaths, and there were dozens of other suspected deaths. Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said the virus had "mutated from pigs and then at some point was transmitted to humans".
Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said the virus "mutated from pigs and then at some point was transmitted to humans". The strain of flu had been confirmed in at least 16 deaths, with 44 others being tested, the government said.
It is not yet clear whether it is the same virus that left seven people sick in the US states of Texas and California. It urged people to take preventative measures such as not shaking hands or sharing crockery.
US experts say they were suffering from a new form of swine flu that combined pig, bird and human viruses. 'No contact'
"This is the first time that we've seen an avian strain, two swine strains and a human strain," Dave Daigle, a spokesman for the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told AFP. In the US, experts say the seven people who fell ill across two states were suffering from a new form of swine flu that combined pig, bird and human viruses.
"This is the first time that we've seen an avian strain, two swine strains and a human strain," Dave Daigle, a spokesman for the CDC, told AFP.
The CDC said none of the seven victims had been in contact with pigs, which is how people usually catch swine flu.The CDC said none of the seven victims had been in contact with pigs, which is how people usually catch swine flu.
It was tracking those who had been in contact with the seven to see if the were ill, it said. All seven had made a full recovery. It was tracking those who had been in contact with the seven to see if they were ill, it said. All seven had made a full recovery.