Swine flu is spreading just as easily as regular winter flu. -- PHOTO: AP
MEXICO CITY - MEXICO said it was winning the battle against a deadly new strain of flu as it stayed largely shut for business and cases dropped but global health officials warned against complacency.
World Health Organization chief Dr Margaret Chan said the news from Mexico, where the new H1N1 strain was first seen, has to be treated with caution.
Flu situation in Mexico
PABLO Kuri, an epidemiologist advising Mr Cordova, told The Associated Press on Sunday that tests have confirmed a swine flu death in Mexico City on April 11, two days earlier than what had been believed to be the first death.
Mr Kuri also said there have been no deaths among health care workers treating swine flu patients in Mexico, an indication that the virus may not be as contagious or virulent as initially feared.
GENEVA - SOME 250 recruits and personnel at an army camp in the western Swiss canton of Fribourg have been placed under quarantine after two recruits were suspected to have caught swine flu.
A 21-year-old army recruit and his roommate reported on Sunday evening that they had flu symptoms, according to a statement from the Swiss Defence Ministry.
'Flu viruses are very unpredictable, very deceptive ... We should not be over-confident,' she said. 'One must not give H1N1 the opportunity to mix with other viruses.'
Just over 1,000 people in 20 countries have caught what has become known as the swine flu but UN chief Ban Ki Moon said WHO does not plan to raise its pandemic alert to the highest level if the current outbreak of the new strain of flu continues as is.
Before issuing a level 6 alert, WHO would need to see the virus spreading within communities in Europe or Asia.
In Mexico, many offices and businesses stayed closed to try to prevent the spread of the new strain of H1N1 swine flu.
Twenty countries worldwide have banned imports of pork and other meat, according to WHO documents obtained by Reuters.
While the new H1N1 strain is not foodborne, fears that it may spread through animal products have prompted restrictions on live pigs, pork, cattle, poultry, livestock, feed and animal semen from countries with reported infections, according to the documents.
Mexico's Health Ministry said on Sunday the epidemic had passed the worst and experts said the virus might be no more severe than normal flu - for now.
Twenty-six people have died in Mexico from the disease and and another 701 have become ill. -- REUTERS
