Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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May 3, 2009

Mexico: H1N1 Declining
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2405135:A6F02AD83191E16082BF9942A0B2165F2A201403E89ED254&
 
Although new cases of the H1N1 virus are being diagnosed around the
world, Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said Sunday that
severe cases in Mexico are declining 
Police officers, wearing mask as a precaution against the swine flu,
patrol a street in Mexico City, Sunday, 03 May 2009Mexico's health
minister says the country's H1N1 flu epidemic has reached its peak and
is declining. Although new cases of the H1N1 virus are being diagnosed
around the world, Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said Sunday
that severe cases in Mexico are declining. Mexico is the epicenter of
the international outbreak. It has reported 19 deaths and another 487
infections. Eighteen other countries have confirmed cases. The acting
director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Dr. Richard Besser
expressed cautious optimism about the outbreak Sunday. He said on Fox
News there are encouraging signs that H1N1 does not appear more severe
than a viral strain found in the typical flu season. The World Health
Organization announced Sunday that it is not raising its alert level to
the pandemic stage. Still, the WHO has sent 2.4 million anti-viral
treatments to 72 developing countries to prepare for a possible
pandemic. The U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen
Sebelius, said Sunday on Fox News that U.S. scientists are not yet
manufacturing a vaccine for the H1N1 virus. She said they first need to
determine the right antidote, and then decide whether a vaccine is
appropriate. Scientists have yet to determine the strength and lethality
of H1N1, a new virus made up of swine, avian and human flu strains. A
CDC Image of H1N1 influenza virus Health experts are concerned it could
become a more serious threat during the normal winter flu season, when
typical influenza viruses cause widespread respiratory illness. In the
U.S. alone, 200,000 people fall sick each year from typical flu viruses,
and 36,000 people die. Beyond Mexico, H1N1 has been confirmed in the
United States, Canada, Colombia and Costa Rica. In Europe, authorities
have found H1N1 in Austria, Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland,
Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland. Cases also have been
confirmed in Hong K
ong, South Korea and New Zealand. The U.S. is the only country outside
Mexico to confirm a death

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


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