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Earlier Saturday, Cordova and a top health official in the United States had expressed some hope that the spread the virus was slowing, even though three new countries confirmed their first cases.
Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said about one-third of the confirmed 160 U.S. cases are people who had been to Mexico. The U.S. death toll from the virus remains at one. The CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat (Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program) cautioned that health officials must remain vigilant.
US, Mexican Presidents Discuss Swine Flu Outbreak
U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon spoke by phone for 20 minutes Saturday to discuss the flu outbreak.
Ireland, Italy and Costa Rica all confirmed their first cases of the swine flu virus Saturday.
A top World Health Organization official said Saturday the organization still considers a pandemic could be "imminent."
WHO: Swine Flu Still Spreading
Dr. Michael Ryan said even though there is no evidence the swine flu virus is spreading outside of North America in a "sustained" way, it is still spreading.
The WHO reports swine flu has spread to 18 countries with more than 600 confirmed cases.
The health organization says it has sent 2.4 million treatments of anti-viral drugs to 72 developing countries to prepare for a possible pandemic.
The WHO says, in addition to Mexico and the United States, the virus has been confirmed in Italy, South Korea, France, Denmark, Hong Kong, Austria, Britain, Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Switzerland. The organization says it is not advising any restrictions on travel or border closures. Nevertheless, several airlines have reduced flights to Mexico because of fears over the new swine flu.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. By VOA News
Posted May 3rd, 2009 by Armen Hareyan
