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Mexico to begin lifting flu curbs Mexico to begin lifting flu curbs
(10 minutes later)
Restaurants and cafes in Mexico City are to reopen on Wednesday after the country recorded a fall in new cases of the swine flu virus.Restaurants and cafes in Mexico City are to reopen on Wednesday after the country recorded a fall in new cases of the swine flu virus.
Libraries, museums and churches are to follow suit a day later but cinemas, theatres and bars are to remain closed, the mayor's office said.Libraries, museums and churches are to follow suit a day later but cinemas, theatres and bars are to remain closed, the mayor's office said.
Government officials are meeting to discuss when schools and businesses across the country can resume work.Government officials are meeting to discuss when schools and businesses across the country can resume work.
UN health officials have warned against international complacency. A total of 1,025 cases of the virus have been reported in 20 countries.
The UN says it has seen no evidence of a spread at community level in Europe and Asia - a development that would trigger the highest level of alert.
Dr Keiji Fukuda, deputy chief of the World Health Organization, told reporters it was essential that surveillance remained strong worldwide.
CONFIRMED CASES Mexico: 101 suspected deaths - 26 confirmedUS: One death, 226 confirmed casesNew Zealand: 6 confirmed casesCanada: 101 confirmed casesSpain: 54 confirmed casesUK: 27 confirmed casesGermany: 8 confirmed casesIsrael: 3 confirmed casesFrance: 4 confirmed cases Italy: 4 confirmed cases El Salvador: 2 confirmed cases Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, South Korea, Irish Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia, Portugal: 1 confirmed case
Countries with confirmed cases of secondary transmission: Mexico, US, Canada, Spain, Germany, UK Mapping the outbreak Clashes erupt over Egypt pig cull Did Mexico over-react to flu?
CONFIRMED CASES Mexico: 101 suspected deaths - 26 confirmedUS: One death, 226 confirmed casesNew Zealand: 6 confirmed casesCanada: 101 confirmed casesSpain: 54 confirmed casesUK: 27 confirmed casesGermany: 8 confirmed casesIsrael: 3 confirmed casesFrance: 4 confirmed cases Italy: 4 confirmed cases El Salvador: 2 confirmed cases Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, South Korea, Irish Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia, Portugal: 1 confirmed case
Countries with confirmed cases of secondary transmission: Mexico, US, Canada, Spain, Germany, UK Mapping the outbreak Clashes erupt over Egypt pig cull Did Mexico over-react to flu?
While only one death has been reported outside Mexico, where the virus is suspected of claiming 101 lives, the World Health Organization said the real test would come with seasonal flu. Surveillance has to be strong everywhere, Dr Fukuda said.
But WHO chief Margaret Chan sought to ease concern that swine flu, or H1N1, might develop into a pandemic similar to the Spanish Flu which killed tens of millions at the end of World War I. "Right now we really just don't know how this will go."
"[There is] no indication that we are facing a situation similar to that in 1918," she told reporters on Monday. Secondary transmission, ie to persons who have not visited Mexico, has been confirmed in six countries.
A total of 1,003 cases of the virus have been officially reported across 20 countries, she said. Person-to-person transmission has been confirmed in six countries. The virus is suspected of claiming 101 lives in Mexico though the number of confirmed cases there is 26, its health minister said on Monday.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the WHO did not plan to raise its pandemic alert to the highest level if the outbreak continued in its current pattern.
In other developmentsIn other developments
• Of nine new confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK, seven appear to have been acquired from people who had not been to Mexico; total confirmed cases stood at 27• Of nine new confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK, seven appear to have been acquired from people who had not been to Mexico; total confirmed cases stood at 27
• About 250 recruits and personnel at an army camp in the western Swiss canton of Fribourg were placed under quarantine after two recruits reported having flu symptoms• About 250 recruits and personnel at an army camp in the western Swiss canton of Fribourg were placed under quarantine after two recruits reported having flu symptoms
'Phase of decline''Phase of decline'
Mexico's shutdown is credited with stemming the spread of the virus but it badly affected the country's economy.Mexico's shutdown is credited with stemming the spread of the virus but it badly affected the country's economy.
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: Advice about swine fluSYMPTOMS - 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: Advice about swine flu
President Felipe Calderon went on national TV on Sunday night to say a nationwide shutdown and an aggressive information campaign appeared to have helped curtail the outbreak in Mexico.President Felipe Calderon went on national TV on Sunday night to say a nationwide shutdown and an aggressive information campaign appeared to have helped curtail the outbreak in Mexico.
"We have succeeded in detaining or at least slowing the spread of the virus precisely because the measures have been the correct ones," he said."We have succeeded in detaining or at least slowing the spread of the virus precisely because the measures have been the correct ones," he said.
Swine flu has been confirmed as the cause of 26 deaths in Mexico and 701 people have been infected, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said on Monday.Swine flu has been confirmed as the cause of 26 deaths in Mexico and 701 people have been infected, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said on Monday.
Earlier, he had said the epidemic was "in its phase of decline", having peaked between 23 and 28 April.Earlier, he had said the epidemic was "in its phase of decline", having peaked between 23 and 28 April.
Ban Ki-moon called for global co-ordination on swine flu
Talking about the possible reopening of schools, he warned it would "not happen just like that". "There will have to be training, preparations for teachers and parents," he told reporters.Talking about the possible reopening of schools, he warned it would "not happen just like that". "There will have to be training, preparations for teachers and parents," he told reporters.
Inhabitants of the capital interviewed by Reuters news agency on Sunday spoke of their frustration at the upset caused by the restrictions.Inhabitants of the capital interviewed by Reuters news agency on Sunday spoke of their frustration at the upset caused by the restrictions.
"They should open everything back up so we can work," said Alberto Vazquez, 28, who washes cars for a living."They should open everything back up so we can work," said Alberto Vazquez, 28, who washes cars for a living.
"These last days have been hard on us. If we don't work, we don't eat.""These last days have been hard on us. If we don't work, we don't eat."
'Not over yet' 'Not Spanish Flu'
Mexico has criticised China for placing in quarantine up to 70 Mexicans, even though they showed no sign of having contracted swine flu.Mexico has criticised China for placing in quarantine up to 70 Mexicans, even though they showed no sign of having contracted swine flu.
Mexico's ambassador to Beijing helped deliver food for quarantined MexicansMexico's ambassador to Beijing helped deliver food for quarantined Mexicans
It said it was sending a plane to Beijing to pick up the Mexicans as China denied it was being discriminatory.It said it was sending a plane to Beijing to pick up the Mexicans as China denied it was being discriminatory.
WHO chief Margaret Chan sought to ease concern that swine flu, or H1N1, might develop into a pandemic similar to the Spanish Flu which killed tens of millions at the end of World War I.
"[There is] no indication that we are facing a situation similar to that in 1918," she told reporters on Monday.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the WHO did not plan to raise its pandemic alert to the highest level if the outbreak continued in its current pattern.
In the US, the number of confirmed swine flu cases has risen from 160 to 226, over 30 states. Officials said this was because the results of lab tests were now coming through, rather than because of a new surge in cases.In the US, the number of confirmed swine flu cases has risen from 160 to 226, over 30 states. Officials said this was because the results of lab tests were now coming through, rather than because of a new surge in cases.
But an expert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the virus was fairly widespread.
"Virtually all of the United States probably has this virus circulating now," Dr Anne Schuchat said.
"That doesn't mean that everybody's infected but within the communities, the virus has arrived."
She said that although she expected cases to become more severe and to lead to deaths, this in itself would not be unusual as every year 36,000 people died in the US after contracting seasonal flu.
But she warned: "I don't think we're out of the woods yet."


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