|
By VOA News
Washington
08 May 2009 –
U.S. President Barack Obama said the swine influenza A-H1N1 has not been
as virulent as feared, but he said the virus can spread easily, and
there is the potential for many people to get sick from one person who
has the illness.
Speaking at the White House Friday, Mr. Obama called for a "common
sense" approach to preventing the spread of the virus, such as washing
hands and keeping sick children at home. He said the country also needs
to prepare for an even worse flu season later in the year.
Earlier Friday, Hong Kong lifted a week-long quarantine for about 300
guests and staff at a hotel where a Mexican tourist infected with the
virus stayed.
In other developments, Mexico confirmed one more death from the new
virus, bringing the country's death toll to 45. The United States, the
only other country to have fatalities from the virus, has two confirmed
deaths.
The World Health Organization said 24 countries have officially reported
about 2,400 cases of the virus, with most of those infections in Mexico
and the U.S. The virus has also been confirmed in Europe, Asia and
Africa.
In Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak, officials said the virus was
spreading more slowly, and businesses and schools that were closed for
several days have re-opened.
The WHO said Mexico has reported more than 1,100 cases of the new flu.
It said the U.S. has reported about 900 cases.
The acting director for the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, Richard Besser, said officials expect to see far more
cases in the U.S., as well as more deaths.
|
