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...Mexico's president told citizens on Wednesday to stay home for a five-day partial shutdown of the economy, after the World Health Organization raised its alert level and said a swine flu pandemic was imminent.
In his first televised address since the crisis erupted last week, President Felipe Calderon told Mexicans to stay home with their families. The country will suspend non-essential work and services, including some government ministries, from May 1-5.
"There is no safer place than your own home to avoid being infected with the flu virus," Calderon said.
Mexico is taking the drastic step after another 17 deaths were potentially linked to swine flu, bringing the total to as many as 176.
FOXNews.com - Mexico Shuts Government; Pandemic Imminent - Infectious DiseaseDr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said there were confirmed cases in 10 states, including 51 in New York, 16 in Texas and 14 in California. The CDC also counted scattered cases in Kansas, Massachusetts , Michigan, Arizona, Indiana, Nevada and Ohio.
At least 10 other states from Rhode Island to Nevada and the Carolinas to Illinois are examining either possible or "probable" cases of swine flu in their states.
State officials in Maine said laboratory tests had confirmed three cases in that state, not yet included in the CDC count.
And the Pentagon said a Marine at the Twentynine Palms base in California had been confirmed to be ill with swine flu and was isolated, along with his roommate. A Marine spokesman at the Pentagon, Major David Nevers, said the sick Marine was doing well and his condition continued to improve. Nevers said about 30 others who had been in contact with the sick Marine would be held apart for five days as well as to see if they show symptoms.
In Mexico, where the flu is believed to have originated, officials said Wednesday that the disease was now suspected in nearly 2,500 illnesses. The Mexican health ministry spokesman said the country has had 17 more possible swine flu deaths since Tuesday, bringing the new total up to 176.
If you go through the past few days you'll notice its almost doubling every day. In almost every location its confirmed to be in.
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So far the US response has been rather muted compared to everyone else on the planet. So far Janet Napolitani has been the front person..and as usual she's been more concerned with perceptions and wording then the problem at hand.
Kathleen Sebelius was confirmed as Health and Human Services Secretary real recent....
Sebelius takes lead role - First Read - msnbc.comSebelius takes lead role
Posted: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 11:49 AM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
So far, we've seen Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano out front of the swine flu outbreak.
But this morning, newly minted Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius took a leading role with a news conference at the agency.
Sebelius, who was confirmed by the Senate last night 65-31, said it is an "honor" to take a leadership position at HHS, but credited the agency's continuing strategy that has been "underway for some time."
She introduced Dr. Richard E. Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control, who broke news via a video that the number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States have jumped to 91 in 10 states -- double the number of states previously reported by the CDC.
"Again, these numbers are almost out of date by the time I say them," Besser said.
She may be the most competent appointee Obama has ever put in place. Hopefully she will start kicking some butts around and get the USA to start acting like there is a problem in the real world.
Problem is she has to convince people over her who routinely prefer to ignore reality. If she doesn't cave into being a kiss ass it may take too long to wake some people up.