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An electron microscope image shows an A H1N1 "swine flu" virus culture obtained from a California patient suffering from the international flu outbreak - Source: Reuters -
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Mexico announced on Monday its swine flu epidemic had passed the
worst and experts said the new H1N1 virus might be no more severe
than normal flu, although it could still have an impact on world
health.
Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova showed journalists a graph
indicating infections in Mexico, the epicenter of the H1N1 flu
outbreak, had fallen sharply from a peak on April 24.
"The admittance of patients to hospitals has decreased and the
health of patients in hospitals has improved," he told a news
conference.
Laboratory tests have shown 590 firm cases of the virus so far in
Mexico, out of which 22 people were confirmed to have died. This
was more than the 19 confirmed deaths previously announced but
Cordova said the tests were simply clarifying a backlog of
suspected cases.
But new cases of the virus, which mixes swine, avian and human flu
strains, still were being tracked across the world, keeping up
fears of a pandemic.
The World Health Organization said its laboratories had identified
a total of 898 H1N1 flu infections in 18 countries, including one
case in Italy. Its toll lags national reports but is considered
more scientifically secure.
Separately, El Salvador reported its first two confirmed cases of
the flu.
The WHO urged governments around the world not to lower their guard
and to cooperate to prevent the flu spreading.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon rejected complaints at home that
his government overreacted by shutting down public life for five
days to prevent infection.
"This is a totally new virus in the world," Calderon told Mexican
television. "We acted decisively, energetically and
properly."
After days of alarm that had kept streets eerily quiet, Mexico City
appeared more relaxed on Monday, with some people venturing out on
bikes or running. Many no longer wore the surgical masks that have
been almost obligatory in the city in the last week as residents
feared infection.
"Encouraging signs"
In the United States, the flu has spread to 30 states and infected
226 people, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
It seems to be hitting mostly younger people, with very few cases
in those over 50 years old.
CDC acting director Richard Besser said there were "encouraging
signs" the new strain was not more severe than what would be seen
during normal seasonal flu.
But he still expected the virus to have a "significant impact" on
people's health. "We're not out of the woods," Besser told Fox News
Sunday.
The US government said it hoped to have a vaccine ready for the new
flu strain by the autumn.
Health officials and scientists from around the world have been
focusing on how the new mutated flu strain may be passed between
animals and humans.
The WHO said flu surveillance should be increased in both humans
and animals now that the latest H1N1 strain was found to have
infected pigs in Canada.
Mexico has seen a stabilization of serious cases in the past few
days, bringing some relief to millions of people who have stayed
indoors in line with a government order for non-essential
businesses to remain closed through Thursday.
"We've been indoors since Friday. So now we've come out to enjoy
some fresh air," cyclist Silvia Rodriguez said, relaxing on the
grass of a central park in Mexico City.
Others were more wary.
"I'm not totally convinced that the worst is over," said Juan
Antonio Hernandez, 48, a caretaker.
A Mexican Embassy official in China said Chinese authorities were
quarantining more than 50 Mexican business people and tourists
after some showed flu symptoms.
China denied Mexican complaints that discrimination lay behind the
measures.
Asia's trade and tourism could be hit by the latest flu outbreak
but lessons learned from the SARS epidemic in 2003 would boost
efforts to counter the effects. SARS, or severe acute respiratory
syndrome, killed more than 800 people around the world in 2003
after first appearing in southern China.
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