The New York Times
An outbreak of swine flu in Mexico has raised concerns worldwide that the disease could be emerging as a global pandemic. The World Health Organization raised the alert level of the fast-spreading virus on April 29, 2009, indicating that a "pandemic is imminent." Experts say that the virus cannot be contained by closing borders or restricting travel, even as some begin to question whether this strain of flu is very deadly.
The A (H1N1) swine flu, first diagnosed in Mexico, is believed to have killed 159 people and sickened about 2,500. Mexican authorities said that there are 358 confirmed cases of infection, and tests are continuing to determine whether recent deaths due to respiratory ailments are attributable to the flu. The only death outside of Mexico has been a 22-month-old Mexican boy who died in Texas.
On April 30, the W.H.O. said that it would stop referring to the virus as swine flu, opting for the less loaded A(H1N1). There is not yet any genetic proof that this strain of influenza ever came from a pig.
Worldwide, at least 13 countries have confirmed cases of the flu. The number of confirmed cases rose from 257 to 331 on May 1, the W.H.O. in Geneva reported. The organization's figures remained lower than the sum of confirmed cases reported by individual states and countries because the W.H.O. is bound by international rules to report only cases confirmed by specific national laboratories, a spokesman said.
On April 30, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 141 confirmed cases from 19 states.
The following day, Asia reported its first case of the virus in a man who had come to Hong Kong from Mexico via Shanghai. Flu experts have warned that it would be harder to manage the disease if it becomes established in Asia's densely populated countries.
Mexico's first known case, which was later confirmed, was from Perote, in Veracruz State, according to Health Minister José Ángel Córdova. The case involved a 5-year-old boy, who recovered.
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