Swine flu world round-up

Man infects pig in Canada, US and Mexico hope worst is over

Article published on the 2009-05-03 Latest update 2009-05-03 15:15 TU

Police outside the Hong Kong hotel where guests and staff have been ordered to stay after a case of H1N1
(Photo: Reuters)

A Canadian farmer has infected some of his own pigs with H1N1 flu virus, as the number of countries with known cases rises to 19. Officials in Mexico revised the number of deaths down and, along with the US, says the situation seems to be "stabilising".

Five more countries reported cases of the so-called "swine flu" on Sunday but health experts said that the worst may be over:

• Canada: Officials Saturday announced that a farmer had infected pigs after returning from a visit to Mexico, adding that the man and the pigs are all either cured or improving. About 30 new cases were reported Saturday.
• Mexico: The confirmed death toll has reached 19, although the government earlier this week said 159 people had probably died from the virus. Health Minister José Angel Cordova said "each day we're seeing fewer serious cases", and claimed that there are "enough elements to say that we are in a stabilisation phase," as a five-day shutdown nears its end.

• China: Mexican diplomats have complained that about 70 of their nationals are being placed in quarantine, despite showing no symptoms of flu. A hotel in Hong Kong, in which an infected Mexican stayed, remains under quarantine.

• Taiwan: All 27 people who had shared a flight with the infected man have been cleared, according to officials.

• Colombia: The first case in Colombia, a man who recently visited Mexico, was reported Sunday.
• Britain: The 16th case was confirmed on Sunday.
• Spain: The number of confirmed cases doubled to 40 on Sunday. All of the victims had travelled to Mexico, apart from two who seem to have been infected by relations.
• US: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Richard Bresser said that there are "encouraging signs". Echoing French doctors' statements Sunday, he said that the virus is "not looking any more severe than a strain we would see during seasonal flu". Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius declared herself "cautiously optimistic", but warned that the winter might bring the real test of the virus's seriousness.
• Egypt: There were clashes between Coptic Christians and police as the government proceeds with the cull of the country's pigs. "The small breeders threw stones at the government officials coming to take their pigs," reports correspondent Alexandre Bucciante. "The police presence did not deter them ... The decision seems mission impossible ... since the full capacity of the Egyptian slaughterhouses for pigs do not exceed 500 animals a day. It would take an eternity to get rid of all the livestock, estimated at 400,000 thousand pigs."
  

On France 24 TV  Mexico notebook