Swine flu records 1,883 cases with 31 deaths

UNITED NATIONS: The number of cases of people being infected with Influenza A (H1N1) now stands at 1,883 with 29 deaths in Mexico and two in the United States, according to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and government officials, reported The Associated Press.

The second US death also in the state of Texas, announced Tuesday, is the first death of a US resident with swine flu.

Last week a toddler from Mexico died at a Houston hospital of the infection.

The second death is of a 33-year-old schoolteacher who had recently given birth to a healthy baby.

The woman died early Tuesday and had been hospitalised since April 19.

Of the 1, 883 people sickened by the infection, Mexico recorded 942 cases followed by US (651), Canada (165), Spain (57), Britain (27), Germany (9), New Zealand (6), Italy (5), Israel (4), France (4), El Salvador (2), South Korea (2) and one case each in Austria, Costa Rica, Colombia, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland.

US health officials said Tuesday they are no longer recommending that schools close because of suspected swine flu cases since the virus has turned out to be milder than initially feared.

World Health Organisation says it’s starting to ship 2.4 million treatments of antiflu drugs to 72 countries “most in need.”

Mexico says epidemic has cost its economy at least US$2.2bil and announces a US$1.3bil stimulus package, mostly for small businesses and tourism.

Mexico cancels Cinco de Mayo celebrations but will allow most businesses to reopen Wednesday, universities to reopen Thursday. Mexico City cafes, museums and libraries to reopen this week; schools nationwide to reopen next week.

US Embassy in Beijing says four US citizens were quarantined in China.

Mexico flies dozens of its nationals home from China, freeing them from a quarantine that the Latin American country criticised as unfair.

A Chinese plane sent to Mexico to retrieve its citizens was returning Wednesday.

Mexico emerged from its swine flu isolation Tuesday as thousands of newspaper vendors, salesmen hawking trinkets and even pan handlers dropped their protective masks and joined the familiar din of traffic horns and blaring music on the streets of the capital.

There were still signs, however, of the virus that set off world health alarms.

Across Mexico, people were eagerly anticipating this week’s reopening of businesses, restaurants, schools and parks, after a claustrophobic five-day furlough.

“We have a lot of confidence nothing is going to happen,” said Irineo Moreno Gonzales, 54, a security guard who Tuesday limited takeout customers to four at a time at a usually crowded downtown Starbucks.

“Mexicans have the same spirit we’ve always had. We’re