Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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May 2, 2009

Mexico: No New Swine Flu Deaths 
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2402B52:A6F02AD83191E1603395DDD8EC9AF4CC70AD7039DCD7B7E4&
 
Mexico's health secretary expresses hope spread of virus slowing down,
but says it is too early to know if country has overcome worst of
outbreak 
Mexican health officials said there have been no new deaths connected to
the H1N1 swine flu virus and expressed hope Saturday that the spread of
the virus is slowing down. Mexican Sec. of Health Jose Angel Cordova
addresses a press conference in Mexico City, 02 May 2009 Health
Secretary Jose Angel Cordova announced Saturday that the confirmed death
toll remains at 16 and fewer than half of the suspected cases (443 out
of 1,105) in Mexico have tested positive for swine flu. However, he said
it is too early to know if Mexico has overcome the worst of the
outbreak. In the United States, where the swine flu has killed one
person, President Barack Obama said his administration is taking
aggressive steps to deal with the outbreak and the possibility it may
get worse. In his weekly address Saturday, Mr. Obama said he has asked
Congress for $1.5 billion to develop a vaccine and buy treatments. The
World Health Organization reported 615 confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu
in 15 countries. Most recently it has spread to South Korea, France,
Denmark and Hong Kong. The WHO said the virus also has been confirmed in
Austria, Britain, Canada, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, the Netherlands,
Spain and Switzerland. The organization said it is not advising any
restrictions on travel or border closures. Nevertheless, several
airlines have reduced flights to Mexico because of fears over the new
flu. Mexican health officials said the latest tests indicate the virus
may not be as contagious as they had feared. U.S. officials said
scientists have learned the H1N1 virus is not as strong as the 1918
strain, which killed tens of millions of people worldwide.

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


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