Developments on swine flu worldwide

Key developments on swine flu outbreaks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and government officials:

"Deaths: 26 confirmed in Mexico and one confirmed in U.S., a toddler from Mexico who died in Texas.

"Confirmed sickened worldwide, 1,223: 727 in Mexico; 286 in U.S.; 101 in Canada; 44 in Spain; 27 in Britain; eight in Germany; six in New Zealand; four in Israel, Italy and France; two in El Salvador; one each in Austria, Costa Rica, Colombia, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Korea and Switzerland.

"U.S. confirmed cases from CDC or states: New York, 74; Texas, 43; California, 29; Delaware, 20; Arizona, 18; South Carolina, 15; Illinois, nine; Colorado, Louisiana, Massachusetts and New Jersey, seven; Florida, five; Alabama and Maryland, four; Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia and Wisconsin, three; Connecticut, Kansas and Michigan, two; and one each in Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Idaho and Utah.

"More U.S. school closings announced, including all 24 schools in a district west of Detroit after a high school student came down with an apparent case of the illness. New York City high school that had 45 students with confirmed swine flu cases reopens.

"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about a third of confirmed U.S. cases are people who had been to Mexico and likely picked up the infection there.

"Hong Kong, where severe acute respiratory syndrome killed 299 in 2003, ordered weeklong quarantine of downtown hotel where a Mexican tourist was confirmed to have the illness, trapping 274 guests and employees inside.

"Mexico to allow most businesses to reopen Wednesday. Mexico City cafes, museums and libraries to reopen this week; schools to reopen after inspections are completed.

"Mexican government charters a plane to bring its citizens home from China after 70 Mexican nationals traveling in China were quarantined there.

"World Health Organization says slaughtering pigs unnecessary because virus is being spread through humans; says swine herd in Canada likely infected by farmworker who returned from Mexico.

"U.S. Meat Export Federation, which represents pork and beef interests abroad, estimates that U.S. pork exports have dropped about 10 percent since the swine flu scare started.

"Visitation at all California prisons is suspended after an ill inmate at Centinela State Prison in Imperial County is tested for swine flu.

"""

On the Net:

CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu