World health experts are investigating a new strain of (flu) that may have killed as many as 60 people in Mexico. The US Centre for Disease Control [CDC] said tests so far seem to link Mexico's outbreak with a swine flu (virus) that had sickened eight in the southern US.
The CDC said it was taking the virus - about which it was working to learn as much as possible - seriously. Mexican authorities have (closed) public buildings, suspended public events and and launched a vaccination campaign. It is suspected the virus (may) have been involved in the deaths of about 60 people, mostly in and around Mexico City, since mid-March.
A new swine flu strain has been (confirmed) in 16 of the deaths and 44 others are being tested, Mexico's health secretary said. More than 900 other (people) are thought to have been infected.
Officials said most of those killed so far (were) young adults - rather than more vulnerable children and adults.
Schools, museums and libraries have been closed (across) the capital region and people are being urged to avoid shaking hands or sharing crockery. All public events have been suspended, an official said.
And in the US, the White House said it was watching the situation.
'Learn more'
Dr Richard Besser, acting director of the CDC, said that preliminary (tests) on seven out of 14 samples from patients in Mexico had matched the virus found in the US. Eight people have fallen sick - six in California and two in Texas - with a virus that experts (say) is a new strain of swine flu. All eight have recovered and only one was hospitalised.
Dr Besser said more information was needed to (determine) the extent of the threat posed by the virus. It was unclear, he said, why it was proving fatal in Mexico but not in the US.
"We are not at the point - WHO is not at the point - of declaring a pandemic; we are at the point of trying to learn more about this virus, understand its (transmission), and how to control it," he said.
Question)
1. How should people survive themselves from the swine flu?
2. Can you talk something about SARS in China in 2003?
