Flu outbreak appears to ease in Mexico but the global extent of its spread remains unknown

As the outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus appears to be easing in Mexico, health officials say the question now is how far has it spread and how serious will it be?

The Central American country is preparing to return to normal after the end of a five-day lockdown ordered by the government to try to slow the spread of infection. In France, all flights from Mexico are being directed to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, in a bid to control any potential outbreak. But the decision has not gone down well with passengers: “I don’t understand why we have been met with these restrictions…it is just the flu, not the plague.” said one disgruntled passenger. It has been announced that a woman in Texas has become the second person outside Mexico to die from the H1N1 flu virus, with the death toll inside Mexico currently at 29. The World Health Organisation says 21 countries have now officially reported 1,490 cases. Experts say if it continues to spread outside the Americas, the WHO is likely to move to a full phase six pandemic alert.More about: France, Mexico

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