| |
MEXICO CITY - Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova on Saturday raised the probable death toll from an outbreak of swine flu to 81, including 20 already confirmed.
Since April 13, "there have been 81 registered deaths which are probably linked to the virus of which only 20 cases have virological checks," Cordova told a news conference after meeting with health officials from across the country.
A total of 1,324 patients with flu symptoms were under investigation, Cordova added.
Thirteen new cases reported in the past 24 hours were added to a previous government estimate of 48 possible deaths from the new, multi-strain swine flu, Cordova said.
Public and private schools in Mexico City and neighbouring Mexico state which were closed as a precaution on Friday would remain shut until Wednesday, May 6, he added.
Schools would also close in San Luis Potosi, the third most affected area, in central Mexico, Cordova said.
The new swine flu outbreak, that has also infected at least 10 people in the United States, has "pandemic potential," the World Health Organization warned Saturday, as concern grew of the virus spreading worldwide. - AFP/vm
|
