Mexicans brace for fresh Swine Flu outbreak

The next wave of swine flu has arrived, and Mexicans are bracing for an outbreak that may be even larger than the one here last spring that became a pandemic. Daily diagnoses reached higher levels in September than the H1N1 peak in April, with 483 new cases in just one day this month alone. It's unlikely there will be large-scale closings of schools and stadiums, because health officials now know the virus is usually mild if treated early. When the first cases of swine flu were confirmed in late April, Mexico's government immediately ordered the closure of all schools, museums, libraries and theaters in the capital. Within days, schools nationwide, restaurant dining rooms and other businesses shut down, streets mostly emptied and soldiers handed out millions of face masks. Mexico could see up to 5 million cases of swine flu during this winter's flu season and deaths could reach over 2,000. Mexico had 29,417 reported cases and 226 deaths as of Friday.

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• H1N1 virus
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