Mexican Swine Flu Death Toll Growing, World on Alert

World Health Organization declares the virus 'a public health emergency of international concern' with 'pandemic potential'

Train riders in Mexico City wear masks after outbreak of swine flu, 24 Apr 2009Health officials from around the world are on alert after a deadly outbreak of swine flu killed dozens of people in Mexico and likely infected others in New Zealand, the United States and Europe. Mexico's health minister Jose Angel Cordova says the swine flu outbreak has killed up to 81 people and sickened more than 1,300 others in the country. While in New Zealand, the country's health minister Tony Ryall said Sunday 10 students who recently visited Mexico are "likely" to have contracted the flu.Across Mexico Sunday, Mass was suspended in many Roman Catholic churches, while hundreds of other public events were also called off to keep people from congregating and spreading the virus in crowds. The Mexican government has also announced that schools in the capital and surrounding areas would be closed until May 6. Meanwhile the country's health department has been given the power to isolate patients and inspect travelers.In Spain, the country's health ministry has placed three people into isolation  after showing symptoms of the virus following a trip to Mexico. In France, at least two people are being tested for the flu. The World Health Organization declared the virus "a public health emergency of international concern" with "pandemic potential."In the United States, health officials confirmed three new non-fatal cases of the virus in California and Kansas.  

New York City officials Sunday confirmed eight cases of swine flu among a group of high school students.  Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the cases are mild and many of the students are recovering.  Some of the students were in Mexico recently. Health officials in the southern U.S. state of Texas say they have temporarily closed a school outside the city of San Antonio after identifying possible cases of swine flu.The WHO is recommending that all countries intensify efforts to track its potential spread but there are growing concerns about the impact swine flu may have on air travel.Authorities in Russia have banned meat imports from Mexico, several US states and some Caribbean countries. Health officials say the unusual flu strain contains genetic material from pigs, birds and humans but authorities say none of the U.S. patients had any contact with pigs.U.S. health officials say swine flu symptoms resemble the regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing.  U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and other administration officials will address a special White House briefing on the swine flu outbreak later Sunday.

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Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.