Mexico says 149 deaths seen linked to swine flu

[Niels Bohr 72]

By Mica Rosenberg

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - An outbreak of swine flu has killed up to 149 people in Mexico and the number of cases is likely to rise, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said on Monday.

The government ordered schools throughout the country to close until May 6 to try to control the spread of the virus, adding that suspected swine flu deaths had been reported in 10 of the country's 31 states.

"We need to recognize that we are in the most critical moment of the epidemic and that the number of cases will continue to increase," Cordova told a news conference in Mexico City.

Most of the those who died were between 20 and 50 years of age, a worrying sign because a hallmark of past pandemics has been the high rate of fatalities among healthy young adults.

Governments around the world rushed to reduce the impact of a possible flu pandemic as the virus spread to the United States, Canada and Europe.

The new flu strain spreads quickly between humans but it has so far only killed people in Mexico, where there are 1,995 suspected cases. More than half of those suspected cases have been sent home with a clean bill of health.

Some 700 people are still hospitalized as the government rushes to confirm through laboratory tests if they are sick with swine flu.

Late detection or treatment could be responsible for the deaths since patients who receive medicine within 48 hours are more likely to recover, Cordova said.

Although it is not clear when the epidemic in Mexico will subside, a vaccine for the new strain could be developed within the next six months, he said.

(Additional reporting by Miguel Angel Gutierrez; Editing by Eric Beech)

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's all just a commie scare campaign. Don't believe it for a minute.

[fozzie 41]

I just posted the figures from the news in another thread. 2000 infected, 700 hospitalized and 149 dead. Thats 35% hospitalized and 7.5% dead. Not good numbers.

[dalegg 143]

Sooo... anyway I'm pretty ticked off about this. I have reservations for Club Med on the 27th of May in Cancun. Thought I was clear since I heard "Mexico City, Mexico City" and Cancun is clear on the end of the country. But of course I'm listening to the news last night and I find out that in fact one of those infected in New York got it while on spring break in guess where- Cancun.

Seems like obviously I would cancel, right? Well not according to the brainiacs at Club Med. They are only cancelling vacations until May 15th, because obviously the Swine Flu that has killed almost 200 people with more victims becoming infected each day will be completely cured in 4 weeks. So if I cancel now I lose my deposit- 25% of the total cost. What is so stupid is that I don't really want to cancel, I want to change locations- and I told them that. But in two weeks when they allow me to cancel, there won't be enough time to rebook to another location and they will simply have to refund me. We both lose. Unless of course the flu is over in 4 weeks, then I can feel super comfortable walking through the Cancun airport with my army issued M.O.P suit and mask on, sipping margaritas through my air holes.