Photo: Love Despite the Masks in Mexico City

Swine Flu Update: Saturday – CDC says widespread, cannot be contained

• New flu too widespread to be contained – Reuters

“It is clear that this is widespread. And that is why we have let you know that we cannot contain the spread of this virus,” the CDC’s Dr. Anne Schuchat told reporters on a conference call.

• WHO meets but no action on Swine Flue – Reuters

An emergency meeting of influenza experts discussed the swine flu outbreaks in Mexico and the United States but did not take any decisions, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Saturday.

• Mexico City cancels public events – Reuters

Mexico city’s health secretary, Armando Ahued, said no new flu deaths had been reported since Friday, when Mexico gave the death toll as 20 confirmed and 48 other possible deaths. In all, 1,004 suspected cases have been reported nationwide.

Mexico has shut schools, cinemas and museums and canceled public events in its sprawling, overcrowded capital of 20 million people to try to prevent further infections. Weekend soccer matches were played in empty stadiums and people on the street wore face masks.

• Mexico scrambles to contain flu outbreak – Los Angeles Times
• Swine flu could become Pandemic says WHO – CNN