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| Suspected Mexico flu toll hits 81 | Suspected Mexico flu toll hits 81 |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Mexican authorities say 81 people are now thought to have been killed by an outbreak of a human swine flu virus. | The Mexican authorities say 81 people are now thought to have been killed by an outbreak of a human swine flu virus. |
| Public buildings have been closed, large events cancelled and people told to stay at home in an attempt to prevent the spread of infection. | Public buildings have been closed, large events cancelled and people told to stay at home in an attempt to prevent the spread of infection. |
| The World Health Organization has said the virus could become a pandemic and is a matter of "international concern." | The World Health Organization has said the virus could become a pandemic and is a matter of "international concern." |
| Several people have also fallen ill in the United States, but there have been no reported fatalities. | Several people have also fallen ill in the United States, but there have been no reported fatalities. |
| Hundreds of public events have been suspended in Mexico and schools in and around the capital, Mexico City, have been closed until 6 May. | Hundreds of public events have been suspended in Mexico and schools in and around the capital, Mexico City, have been closed until 6 May. |
| Museums and libraries have also been closed and people are being urged to avoid shaking hands or sharing crockery. | Museums and libraries have also been closed and people are being urged to avoid shaking hands or sharing crockery. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYIt's eerily quiet here in the capital. Lots of people with masks Dr Duncan Wood, Mexico City Read more experiences | HAVE YOUR SAYIt's eerily quiet here in the capital. Lots of people with masks Dr Duncan Wood, Mexico City Read more experiences |
| Mexico's Health Secretary, Jose Cordova, said a total of 1,324 people had been admitted to hospital with suspected symptoms since 13 April and were being tested for the virus. | Mexico's Health Secretary, Jose Cordova, said a total of 1,324 people had been admitted to hospital with suspected symptoms since 13 April and were being tested for the virus. |
| "In that same period, 81 deaths were recorded probably linked to the virus but only in 20 cases we have the laboratory tests to confirm it," he said. | "In that same period, 81 deaths were recorded probably linked to the virus but only in 20 cases we have the laboratory tests to confirm it," he said. |
| Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has announced emergency powers to deal with the situation. | Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has announced emergency powers to deal with the situation. |
| He said he had published a decree through which the government "assumes the faculties and the attributions given by the constitution to the president in case of emergency, like the one we are seeing now". | He said he had published a decree through which the government "assumes the faculties and the attributions given by the constitution to the president in case of emergency, like the one we are seeing now". |
| The measures give the authorities the powers to isolate individuals suspected of having the virus and inspect their homes. | The measures give the authorities the powers to isolate individuals suspected of having the virus and inspect their homes. |
| Mr Calderon said Mexico was facing "something unknown" but that the authorities had "large supplies" of the relevant medication. | Mr Calderon said Mexico was facing "something unknown" but that the authorities had "large supplies" of the relevant medication. |
| 'International concern' | 'International concern' |
| In the US, 11 people are now confirmed to have been infected with the new strain - seven people in California, two in Texas, and two in Kansas. | In the US, 11 people are now confirmed to have been infected with the new strain - seven people in California, two in Texas, and two in Kansas. |
| SWINE FLU Swine flu is a respiratory disease found in pigsHuman cases usually occur in those who have contact with pigsHuman-to-human transmission is rare and such cases are closely monitored Q&A: Swine flu UK monitoring flu outbreak | SWINE FLU Swine flu is a respiratory disease found in pigsHuman cases usually occur in those who have contact with pigsHuman-to-human transmission is rare and such cases are closely monitored Q&A: Swine flu UK monitoring flu outbreak |
| Eight suspected cases are being investigated at a New York City high school where about 200 students fell mildly ill with flu-like symptoms. | Eight suspected cases are being investigated at a New York City high school where about 200 students fell mildly ill with flu-like symptoms. |
| City health commissioner Dr Thomas Frieden said preliminary tests of the specimens showed they were possible cases of swine flu. | City health commissioner Dr Thomas Frieden said preliminary tests of the specimens showed they were possible cases of swine flu. |
| Further tests will clarify if it was the same strain that was detected in the other three states. | Further tests will clarify if it was the same strain that was detected in the other three states. |
| Dr Frieden urged people to maintain basic hygiene, such as covering their mouths when coughing and sneezing, washing hands regularly and keeping surfaces clean. | Dr Frieden urged people to maintain basic hygiene, such as covering their mouths when coughing and sneezing, washing hands regularly and keeping surfaces clean. |
| Following a meeting of its emergency committee on Saturday, the WHO said the virus had the potential to become a pandemic but it was too early to say whether that would happen. | Following a meeting of its emergency committee on Saturday, the WHO said the virus had the potential to become a pandemic but it was too early to say whether that would happen. |
| WHO Director General Margaret Chan said recent events constituted "a public health emergency of international concern" and that countries needed to cooperate in heightening surveillance. | WHO Director General Margaret Chan said recent events constituted "a public health emergency of international concern" and that countries needed to cooperate in heightening surveillance. |
| The WHO has set a worldwide pandemic alert of level three, meaning a new virus has been confirmed but there is no or limited evidence of human to human transmission. | The WHO has set a worldwide pandemic alert of level three, meaning a new virus has been confirmed but there is no or limited evidence of human to human transmission. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Face masks are handed out, while the head of the WHO voices concern | Face masks are handed out, while the head of the WHO voices concern |
| The highest alert on the six-point scale warns of "efficient and sustained human-to-human transmission". | The highest alert on the six-point scale warns of "efficient and sustained human-to-human transmission". |
| Raising the alert level could lead to travel advisories, trade restrictions and border closures. | Raising the alert level could lead to travel advisories, trade restrictions and border closures. |
| The WHO is advising all countries to be vigilant for seasonally unusual flu or pneumonia-like symptoms among their populations - particularly among young healthy adults. | The WHO is advising all countries to be vigilant for seasonally unusual flu or pneumonia-like symptoms among their populations - particularly among young healthy adults. |
| Officials said most of those killed so far in Mexico were young adults - rather than more vulnerable children and the elderly. | Officials said most of those killed so far in Mexico were young adults - rather than more vulnerable children and the elderly. |
| Early days | Early days |
| At least some of the detected flu cases show a new version of the H1N1 swine flu sub-strain - a respiratory disease which infects pigs but only sporadically infects humans. | At least some of the detected flu cases show a new version of the H1N1 swine flu sub-strain - a respiratory disease which infects pigs but only sporadically infects humans. |
| PANDEMIC CRITERIA Virus can infect peopleIt can easily spread person-to-personNo immunity in humans | |
| H1N1 is the same strain that causes seasonal flu outbreaks in humans, but the newly-detected version contains genetic material from versions which usually affect pigs and birds. | H1N1 is the same strain that causes seasonal flu outbreaks in humans, but the newly-detected version contains genetic material from versions which usually affect pigs and birds. |
| The virus is spread mainly through coughs and sneezes. | The virus is spread mainly through coughs and sneezes. |
| There is currently no vaccine for the new strain but severe cases can be treated with antiviral medication. | There is currently no vaccine for the new strain but severe cases can be treated with antiviral medication. |
| It is unclear how effective currently available flu vaccines would be at offering protection against the new strain, as it is genetically distinct from other flu strains. | |
| Are you in Mexico or the US? Do you know someone who has been affected by the outbreak? Tell us your experiences by filling in the form below. | Are you in Mexico or the US? Do you know someone who has been affected by the outbreak? Tell us your experiences by filling in the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |