Swine Flu Update

Swine flu has now been found in 29 countries, with a total of 4,379 confirmed cases, the World Health Organization said in its latest update today.

While the flu's affects have been relatively mild, deaths are occurring. Mexico has 45 deaths among 1,626 cases; the United States has the most cases, 2,254, with two deaths. Canada has 280 cases and one death and Costa Rica has eight cases and one death. Those are the only countries among th4e 29 where the flu has been found to report deaths from it.

The W.H.O. continues to state that travel restrictions are unnecessary.

Meanwhile, 300 guests and staff of the Metropark Hotel in Hong Kong were released Friday after a seven-day lockdown in the hotel because a Mexican man confirmed as having the swine flu had stayed there.

While some outsiders had derided the quarantine as an overreaction, Hong Kong officials have been extremely cognizant of their experience during the SARS outbreak in 2002 and 2003, which killed 299 in the city and shut down tourism and much international commerce for months.

###