Swine Flu Is Devouring Mexico, Southwestern U.S.!

A new strain of swine flu that has killed at least 16 people in the Mexico City metro area is shutting that town down. The president has closed the schools from kindergarten to college and nearly a thousand people are infected. Also there’s a strain of pig flu in the Southwestern United States. Don’t panic.

The flu appears to attack younger people, like 9 years old, or older people like 90. Fortunately, you fall somewhere in between. Unless you don’t. But you probably don’t live in California or San Antonio where other cases were found. OH SHIT, UNLESS YOU DO.

Mexico’s minister of health, Jose Angel Cordova told the press that the virus in Mexico City mutated from pigs and transferred to humans, but researchers found that the virus is actually a unique genetic mix of swine, human and avian flu viruses, which is perhaps why the human immune system appears to be so unprepared to fight it off. How creative of that flu.

Meanwhile the director of the respiratory disease department at the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Anne Schuchat, takes a more cautious, optimistic tone. “We don’t yet know the extent of the problem, but we don’t think this is a time for major concern.” Only 8 cases of a similar type of flu have been reported in the U.S. and all affected have survived. It’s unclear if the two outbreaks of swine flu are due to the same strain but it appears extremely likely that they are at least related. Oh, heh heh. WHAT?

Citizens of Mexico City have been encouraged to stay away from crowded areas–some were even seen wearing surgical masks to protect themselves. The World Health Organization is calling an emergency meeting to discuss the flu outbreak and determine whether it is likely to become a pandemic and how to best contain the outbreak. We know what we’re doing. Sealing the bubble. See you guys on Monday.

WHO plans emergency session over deadly Mexico flu outbreak [CBC]
Mexico Shuts Some Schools Amid Deadly Flu Outbreak [NYT]