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MEXICO CITY: Mexico said on Sunday its H1N1 flu epidemic is "in its phase of decline" but urged continued caution as it raised its number of infected cases by 33.
The number of deaths in the country from the virus was unchanged from late Saturday at 19, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told a news conference.
The tally of infected cases had increased to 487 from 454, he said.
Cordova said anti-viral medicine was effective against the flu, and the public's use of face-masks and hand-washing had limited the spread of the virus. Hospital admissions with flu-like symptoms were dropping.
The "epidemic is in its phase of decline," he said, adding that it had peaked between April 23 and 28.
But he warned the assessment was preliminary and that it was important "not to lower one's guard."
Nevertheless, the prospect of the national flu emergency ending soon was viewed with relief across Mexico, the country at the epicentre of the global flu crisis.
Residents were increasingly chafing at restrictions that included the shutdown of schools, tourist sites and non-essential businesses, and, in the capital, the closure of bars, restaurants, clubs and cinemas.
The abrupt absence of tourists was keenly felt. The country relies on the tourist industry for a significant part of its foreign-currency revenues.
Cordova hinted the measures could be eased, but only in places that were not at high risk.
"The longer the epidemic lasts, the more difficult it will be to restore credibility so the tourists return to the tourist sites," he said, adding that the possibility of infection at those venues was "minimal."
A decision on a re-opening of the schools would be made on Monday, he said.
Cordova also defended his government's handling of the epidemic, saying officials had been responsible in preparing for a worst-case scenario.
At the peak of the crisis, the health minister had spoken of 159 "probable" deaths. The World Health Organisation subsequently raised its alert over the flu, warning a pandemic was "imminent."
Since then, though, stringent tests by US and Canadian labs excluded the majority of the "probables," leaving the much-smaller confirmed toll.
Cordova said another 400 cases were being tested on Sunday and the results would be added to the official tally later in the day.
The majority of the confirmed fatalities - 14 out of the 19 so far detected - were women.
The minister said poverty played a part in the epidemic because transmission was made easier in low-income homes where many people lived together.
He said he visited the families of some of the dead, including that of a Bangladeshi man who had moved to Mexico City a year ago and who lived with 10 relatives and friends. None of them were infected.
Mexico meanwhile directed its anger at China, which it said was "unjustly" singling out Mexicans because of their nationality rather than whether they were infected.
Mexican diplomats in China said 70 of their nationals had been placed under quarantine there despite showing no signs of swine flu.
Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa has warned Mexicans against visiting China.
In a development that might be related to the spat, a Chinese charter flight to Mexico organised to pick up 120 Chinese nationals stranded by a Chinese ban on flights from the flu-hit nation was cancelled, according to Chinese state media. - AFP/de
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