Science
(2009-05-03)
Man and his daughters wear face masks as they rest outside tourist office next to Puerta Mexico international border crossing bridge in Matamoros
Mexico's health secretary says the swine flu epidemic in his country "is now in its declining phase."
There are more than 500 confirmed cases in Mexico, including the 19 people who died from the virus. Mexico's Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova says it appears the virus peaked about a week ago and that the nation's efforts to cut off the flu's spread seem to have worked.
Mexico shuttered schools, closed most of its businesses and banned mass public gatherings.
Still, the virus is hopscotching across the globe. Colombia has reported South America's first confirmed case of swine flu a day after Costa Rica reported the first case in Central America.
The U.S. has more than 225 confirmed cases in 30 states. And the global tally, including Mexico, is quickly approaching 800 in 18 countries.
Scientists warn that the virus, which has been relatively mild so far, could mutate into a deadlier form.
© Copyright 2012, Associated Press
