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| Mexico flu 'a potential pandemic' | Mexico flu 'a potential pandemic' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A new flu virus suspected of killing at least 60 people in Mexico has the potential to become a pandemic, the World Health Organization's chief says. | A new flu virus suspected of killing at least 60 people in Mexico has the potential to become a pandemic, the World Health Organization's chief says. |
| Margaret Chan said the outbreak was a "health emergency of international concern" and must be closely monitored. | Margaret Chan said the outbreak was a "health emergency of international concern" and must be closely monitored. |
| Health experts say tests so far seem to link the illnesses in Mexico with a swine flu virus in the southern US. | Health experts say tests so far seem to link the illnesses in Mexico with a swine flu virus in the southern US. |
| Several people have also fallen ill in the US, and the authorities there are watching the situation. | Several people have also fallen ill in the US, and the authorities there are watching the situation. |
| A top US health official said the strain of swine flu had spread widely and could not be contained. | |
| Ms Chan cut short a visit to the US and returned to Geneva where the WHO's emergency committee met. | Ms Chan cut short a visit to the US and returned to Geneva where the WHO's emergency committee met. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYI work as a resident doctor in one of the biggest hospitals in Mexico City and sadly, the situation is far from 'under control' Yeny Gregorio Davila, Mexico City Read more experiences | HAVE YOUR SAYI work as a resident doctor in one of the biggest hospitals in Mexico City and sadly, the situation is far from 'under control' Yeny Gregorio Davila, Mexico City Read more experiences |
| The committee can recommend declaring an international public health emergency and raise the global pandemic alert level - a move that could lead to travel advisories, trade restrictions and border closures. | The committee can recommend declaring an international public health emergency and raise the global pandemic alert level - a move that could lead to travel advisories, trade restrictions and border closures. |
| The WHO says it does not know the full risk yet but it quoted Mrs Chan as saying that "the current events constitute a public health emergency of international concern". | The WHO says it does not know the full risk yet but it quoted Mrs Chan as saying that "the current events constitute a public health emergency of international concern". |
| It is advising all member states to be vigilant for seasonally unusual flu or pneumonia-like symptoms among their populations - particularly among young healthy adults. | It is advising all member states to be vigilant for seasonally unusual flu or pneumonia-like symptoms among their populations - particularly among young healthy adults. |
| Officials said most of those killed so far in Mexico were young adults - rather than more vulnerable children and the elderly. | Officials said most of those killed so far in Mexico were young adults - rather than more vulnerable children and the elderly. |
| US cases | US cases |
| Schools, museums and libraries have been closed across the Mexican capital's region and people are being urged to avoid shaking hands or sharing crockery. | Schools, museums and libraries have been closed across the Mexican capital's region and people are being urged to avoid shaking hands or sharing crockery. |
| The RC church has issued advice to its priests to help halt the spread of the flu | The RC church has issued advice to its priests to help halt the spread of the flu |
| All public events have been suspended, an official said. Two previously sold-out soccer matches were played in empty stadiums to avoid potentially spreading the virus. | All public events have been suspended, an official said. Two previously sold-out soccer matches were played in empty stadiums to avoid potentially spreading the virus. |
| The Roman Catholic Church in Mexico has recommended measures to avoid further contagion at Mass this Sunday. | The Roman Catholic Church in Mexico has recommended measures to avoid further contagion at Mass this Sunday. |
| Priests have been told to place communion wafers in the hands of worshippers rather than in their mouths and to suggest to the congregation that kissing or shaking hands be avoided during the service. | Priests have been told to place communion wafers in the hands of worshippers rather than in their mouths and to suggest to the congregation that kissing or shaking hands be avoided during the service. |
| In the US, the authorities say about 200 children were absent from a school in the New York borough of Queens on Friday, presumed ill. | In the US, the authorities say about 200 children were absent from a school in the New York borough of Queens on Friday, presumed ill. |
| Eight of the nine specimens taken from children were determined to be probable cases of swine fever, said city health commissioner Dr Thomas Frieden. | Eight of the nine specimens taken from children were determined to be probable cases of swine fever, said city health commissioner Dr Thomas Frieden. |
| Those samples are now being examined by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). | Those samples are now being examined by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). |
| None of the 200 children had required hospital treatment and many had fully recovered, said Dr Frieden, but the school could remain closed out of "an abundance of caution". | None of the 200 children had required hospital treatment and many had fully recovered, said Dr Frieden, but the school could remain closed out of "an abundance of caution". |
| He urged people to maintain basic hygiene, such and covering their mouths when coughing and sneezing, washing hands regularly and keeping surfaces clean. | He urged people to maintain basic hygiene, such and covering their mouths when coughing and sneezing, washing hands regularly and keeping surfaces clean. |
| We are not at a point where we can keep this virus in one place Anne Schuchat, CDC | We are not at a point where we can keep this virus in one place Anne Schuchat, CDC |
| Six people fell have also fallen ill in California and two in Texas - only one was treated in hospital and all have since recovered. | Six people fell have also fallen ill in California and two in Texas - only one was treated in hospital and all have since recovered. |
| Health officials in Kansas have also confirmed two cases of swine flu. | Health officials in Kansas have also confirmed two cases of swine flu. |
| CDC officials have said that with cases arising in so many communities, containment is unlikely to be feasible. | CDC officials have said that with cases arising in so many communities, containment is unlikely to be feasible. |
| "Now that we are looking more widely, I really expect us to find more," said Anne Schuchat of the CDC. | "Now that we are looking more widely, I really expect us to find more," said Anne Schuchat of the CDC. |
| Hopeful sign | Hopeful sign |
| The CDC plans to send experts to Mexico to help investigate the virus which has infected more than 1,000 people in the country. | The CDC plans to send experts to Mexico to help investigate the virus which has infected more than 1,000 people in the country. |
| SWINE FLU Swine flu is a respiratory disease found in pigsHuman cases usually occur in those who have contact with pigsHuman-to-human transmission is rare and such cases are closely monitored Q&A: Swine flu class="" href="/1/hi/uk/8018887.stm">UK monitoring flu outbreak | |
| The BBC science editor Susan Watts says the new strain is a classic "re-assortment" - a combination feared most by those watching for the flu pandemic. | The BBC science editor Susan Watts says the new strain is a classic "re-assortment" - a combination feared most by those watching for the flu pandemic. |
| But she says possibly one hopeful sign is that, of the eight cases in the US, there has been only one requiring hospital treatment, and no deaths. | But she says possibly one hopeful sign is that, of the eight cases in the US, there has been only one requiring hospital treatment, and no deaths. |
| So it may turn out there is some other kind of infection at work in Mexico, as well as the new flu virus. | So it may turn out there is some other kind of infection at work in Mexico, as well as the new flu virus. |
| Swine flu is a respiratory disease which infects pigs. It does not normally infect humans, although sporadic cases do occur usually in people who have had close contact with pigs. | Swine flu is a respiratory disease which infects pigs. It does not normally infect humans, although sporadic cases do occur usually in people who have had close contact with pigs. |
| Are you in Mexico or the US? Do you know someone who has been affected by the outbreak? Tell us your experiences by filling in the form below. | Are you in Mexico or the US? Do you know someone who has been affected by the outbreak? Tell us your experiences by filling in the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |