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Swine flu virus kills child in US Swine flu virus kills child in US
(10 minutes later)
A 23-month-old child in Texas is the first person known to have died of swine flu outside Mexico, where it may have killed as many as 159 people.A 23-month-old child in Texas is the first person known to have died of swine flu outside Mexico, where it may have killed as many as 159 people.
US officials said the child - one of 64 swine flu cases in the country - had been to Mexico. Officials said the child - one of 64 US cases - was from Mexico and had recently travelled there.
President Barack Obama urged local authorities across the US to be vigilant and shut schools if necessary.President Barack Obama urged local authorities across the US to be vigilant and shut schools if necessary.
Several new cases have been reported in Europe. The World Health Organization has called a meeting on the outbreak.Several new cases have been reported in Europe. The World Health Organization has called a meeting on the outbreak.
CONFIRMED CASES Mexico: 159 suspected deaths - seven confirmed cases US: one death, at least 63 confirmed casesCanada: 13 confirmed casesUK: 5 confirmed casesSpain: 4 confirmed casesGermany, New Zealand: 3 confirmed cases each Israel: 2 confirmed casesAustria: 1 case Mapping the outbreak In pictures: Swine flu spreads Mexico: First swine flu casesCONFIRMED CASES Mexico: 159 suspected deaths - seven confirmed cases US: one death, at least 63 confirmed casesCanada: 13 confirmed casesUK: 5 confirmed casesSpain: 4 confirmed casesGermany, New Zealand: 3 confirmed cases each Israel: 2 confirmed casesAustria: 1 case Mapping the outbreak In pictures: Swine flu spreads Mexico: First swine flu cases
Earlier, it confirmed that the flu was being transmitted between humans and called on countries to check their contingency plans for a possible pandemic.Earlier, it confirmed that the flu was being transmitted between humans and called on countries to check their contingency plans for a possible pandemic.
But the WHO - the UN's health body - also urged caution, saying measures like travel bans were unlikely to prove effective.But the WHO - the UN's health body - also urged caution, saying measures like travel bans were unlikely to prove effective.
France will ask the European Union on Thursday to suspend all flights going to Mexico because of the flu outbreak, Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said.France will ask the European Union on Thursday to suspend all flights going to Mexico because of the flu outbreak, Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said.
She said the request would be made at a meeting of the 27 EU health ministers, due to be held in Luxembourg.She said the request would be made at a meeting of the 27 EU health ministers, due to be held in Luxembourg.
Visits to MexicoVisits to Mexico
The death in Texas, which borders Mexico, was confirmed by Dr Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The death in Texas, which borders Mexico, was confirmed by Dr Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
SYMPTOMS - WHAT TO DO Swine flu symptoms are similar to those produced by ordinary seasonal flu - fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigueIf you have flu symptoms and recently visited affected areas of Mexico, you should seek medical adviceIf you suspect you are infected, you should stay at home and take advice by telephone initially, in order to minimise the risk of infection Q&A: What is swine flu? Swine flu: How serious a threat? Can masks help spread? The quest for a swine flu vaccineSYMPTOMS - WHAT TO DO Swine flu symptoms are similar to those produced by ordinary seasonal flu - fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigueIf you have flu symptoms and recently visited affected areas of Mexico, you should seek medical adviceIf you suspect you are infected, you should stay at home and take advice by telephone initially, in order to minimise the risk of infection Q&A: What is swine flu? Swine flu: How serious a threat? Can masks help spread? The quest for a swine flu vaccine
"Unfortunately this morning I do have to confirm that we have the first death of a child from H1N1 flu virus," he told US TV channel CBS."Unfortunately this morning I do have to confirm that we have the first death of a child from H1N1 flu virus," he told US TV channel CBS.
"And this is in Texas, a 23-month-old child.""And this is in Texas, a 23-month-old child."
The patient's nationality is unclear, but officials said the child had been to Mexico.The patient's nationality is unclear, but officials said the child had been to Mexico.
Speaking in Washington on Wednesday, President Obama offered his condolences and said the federal government was doing the utmost to contain the virus.Speaking in Washington on Wednesday, President Obama offered his condolences and said the federal government was doing the utmost to contain the virus.
He also urged local public-health bodies to be vigilant and said schools with confirmed cases "should consider closing".He also urged local public-health bodies to be vigilant and said schools with confirmed cases "should consider closing".
Meanwhile, new cases of swine flu have been confirmed in several European countries - all people who recently visited Mexico.Meanwhile, new cases of swine flu have been confirmed in several European countries - all people who recently visited Mexico.
They include:They include:
  • Three cases in Germany - two women and one man
  • Three people in Britain - including a 12-year-old girl - bringing the UK total to five
  • One woman in Austria
  • In Spain, the number of confirmed cases doubled to four
  • Three cases in Germany - two women and one man
  • Three people in Britain - including a 12-year-old girl - bringing the UK total to five
  • One woman in Austria
  • In Spain, the number of confirmed cases doubled to four
Egypt, for its part, began a mass slaughter of all 300,000 pigs in the country in an effort to fight swine flu - although no cases have been reported in the country.Egypt, for its part, began a mass slaughter of all 300,000 pigs in the country in an effort to fight swine flu - although no cases have been reported in the country.
ConfusionConfusion
In Mexico, there is some confusion over exactly how many people died from H1N1, the BBC's Stephen Gibbs reports.In Mexico, there is some confusion over exactly how many people died from H1N1, the BBC's Stephen Gibbs reports.
From Matthew Price in Oaxaca, MexicoFrom Matthew Price in Oaxaca, Mexico
The first fatal case of the virus is believed to have been contracted here in Oaxaca. It is a tourist centre and the obvious concern is that when the visitors leave, they may take the virus with them.The first fatal case of the virus is believed to have been contracted here in Oaxaca. It is a tourist centre and the obvious concern is that when the visitors leave, they may take the virus with them.
At the local cemetery, a group of gravediggers pointed me towards a freshly dug plot. The flowers on top had wilted under the sun but still had some colour. Here was the grave of the first confirmed victim of the virus, Adela Gutierrez, 39.At the local cemetery, a group of gravediggers pointed me towards a freshly dug plot. The flowers on top had wilted under the sun but still had some colour. Here was the grave of the first confirmed victim of the virus, Adela Gutierrez, 39.
One of the gravediggers, Sergio Castro Lopez, told me people here are worried. They are waiting for the authorities to tell them what they should do. I tried at the local hospital to get more information but the ministry of health has ordered its staff across the country to remain silent.One of the gravediggers, Sergio Castro Lopez, told me people here are worried. They are waiting for the authorities to tell them what they should do. I tried at the local hospital to get more information but the ministry of health has ordered its staff across the country to remain silent.
This is largely because the government is now subjecting the samples it has from deceased patients to a more laborious verification process.This is largely because the government is now subjecting the samples it has from deceased patients to a more laborious verification process.
Meanwhile, the search for the source of the outbreak continues, with the focus on the vicinity of a pig farm in the eastern part of the country.Meanwhile, the search for the source of the outbreak continues, with the focus on the vicinity of a pig farm in the eastern part of the country.
The Mexican government is urging against jumping to conclusions and is suggesting the possibility remains that the virus originated outside the country, our correspondent adds.The Mexican government is urging against jumping to conclusions and is suggesting the possibility remains that the virus originated outside the country, our correspondent adds.
The capital, Mexico City, has banned restaurants and cafes from serving all food except takeaways to try to prevent the spread of the virus.The capital, Mexico City, has banned restaurants and cafes from serving all food except takeaways to try to prevent the spread of the virus.
Schools across the country have closed, public gatherings are restricted and archaeological sites have been placed off-limits.Schools across the country have closed, public gatherings are restricted and archaeological sites have been placed off-limits.
There is great fear among the medical community... One of my colleagues that was exposed chose to stay in a hotel rather than run the risk of infecting her daughters Dr Guadalupe, BBC News website reader in Mexico Swine flu: Doctors' diary Your experiencesThere is great fear among the medical community... One of my colleagues that was exposed chose to stay in a hotel rather than run the risk of infecting her daughters Dr Guadalupe, BBC News website reader in Mexico Swine flu: Doctors' diary Your experiences
Mexico City's chamber of trade estimated restrictions in the city were costing businesses there at least 777 million pesos ($57m or £39m) a day.Mexico City's chamber of trade estimated restrictions in the city were costing businesses there at least 777 million pesos ($57m or £39m) a day.
People have been cancelling beautician appointments, wary of close physical contact, Reuters news agency reports.People have been cancelling beautician appointments, wary of close physical contact, Reuters news agency reports.
"The customers are scared stupid - they don't want to go out," said hairdresser Esther Gonzalez."The customers are scared stupid - they don't want to go out," said hairdresser Esther Gonzalez.
Have you been affected by swine flu? You can send your experiences using the form below:Have you been affected by swine flu? You can send your experiences using the form below:
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