SWINE FLU VIRUS ???

[geekster]

13,000 dead in the US so far this year from regular flu.

[chiefdanfox]

I WELCOME OUR INSECTOID ALIEN OVERLORDS.
PEACE, AND CELLULOSE.

[oneeyeddick]

It hit Reno today.

http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/43995607.html

.

[geekster]

Beware of goat flu. Itz nsty!

[Fire Wire]

[ALICEtheGOON]

[Apollonaris Zeus]

Ohio National Guard to protect Tamilflu stocks!

It a government plot to kill all people without a job so they can save Unemployment payments!

I've got my bomb shelter fully stocked with machine gun ammo, anti-tank weapons, air to ground missiles and food for 6 months!

Did I mention my face mask- this one should scare away any virus



and Evil spirits!

[Ugly Dougly]

13,000 dead in the US so far this year from regular flu.

Mostly preventable, since vaccines are available for these. That's not an epidemic. If there was no vaccine for the common strains of flu, you see bigger numbers. Probably someone you know would die. That's what the concern is for.

[EspressoDude]

WARNING WARNING WARNING


Due to increased threat if diseases spread by contact with pigs, resulting in swine flu, and other virus like diseases such as PAIDS; Pigs (swineaus porkyii and related quadrapeds) are being slaughtered in mass exterminations.

In order to prevent catastrophic times ahead, bacon stocks should be acquired as soon as possible.

It may soon become impossible to purchase bacon required for sustenance of Burners, and especially citizens of Terminal City. Stock up before a major food group is wiped out and eliminated from store sheves..

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS STOCK UP ON ESSENTIAL BACON NOW

[theCryptofishist]

13,000 dead in the US so far this year from regular flu.

Mostly preventable, since vaccines are available for these. That's not an epidemic. If there was no vaccine for the common strains of flu, you see bigger numbers. Probably someone you know would die. That's what the concern is for.

I swear, I think WHO is really stupid. If we're only one from the top of the scale, and hardly anybody is affected, then how will we deliniate millions of infections and thousands dead from hundreds of millions effected and thousands dead?

[Ugly Dougly]

Yeah, WHO do they think they are?

Anyway, here are some amusing sites:
http://www.who.int/en/
http://www.cdc.gov/

We are indeed close to a worldwide crisis; that doesn't mean that it's inevitable, though.

Here, have some Spanish Flu, or information about it, anyway:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu

The pandemic is estimated to have affected up to one billion people: half the world's population at the time.

Tell me that's not serious.

[sattelite5812]

If you're concerned about this pandemic, visit this site: http://doihavepigflu.com/

[skibear]

Dog Flu in Michigan:

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/19305001/detail.html#

[Apollonaris Zeus]

The US now calls Swine Flu as H1N1

Israel will now call the Swine Flu as the Mexican Flu-

Because Swine are not Kosher!

[Elderberry]

The US now calls Swine Flu as H1N1

Israel will now call the Swine Flu as the Mexican Flu-

Because Swine are not Kosher!

Egypt also killed all the pigs in their country--being it's a muslim country and they don't eat pork either--did this mean they killed what? like all two pigs in their country. (Not to mention that killing the pigs would have no effect on stopping the flu.)

JK

[Apollonaris Zeus]

The US now calls Swine Flu as H1N1

Israel will now call the Swine Flu as the Mexican Flu-

Because Swine are not Kosher!

Egypt also killed all the pigs in their country--being it's a muslim country and they don't eat pork either--did this mean they killed what? like all two pigs in their country. (Not to mention that killing the pigs would have no effect on stopping the flu.)

JK

I suppose they have a large Coptic Christian population plus a few wild boars running around the nile-

Pigs in Ancient Egypt
by Marie Parsons

There is some divided speculation about the existence and usage of pigs in ancient Egypt. Was the Set-animal a pig, and therefore was the creature considered taboo since Set was thought to be an "evil" god? Was the pig connected with trichinosis and therefore thought unfit to eat? Was it simply considered unclean because of its particular habits? Did it exist at all in Egypt?
It is very unlikely that the ancients knew of any connection between trichinosis and eating undercooked pork. There is no evidence they had any taboo against more toxic materials or that they even knew of the existence of such dangers. Pigs were herded, raised, and occasionally eaten, throughout Egypt from the Predynastic period into the Late Period and Graeco-Roman times.

The local breed of domestic pig in ancient Egypt descended from an indigenous ancestor, sus scrofa, the Wild Boar. It was once abundant in the country and had a fairly extensive range throughout the Nile Valley, in the Delta, the Faiyum and the Wadi Natrun. The species only became locally extinct around the turn of the 20th century ACE, due to over-hunting and loss of its prime habitat.

The oldest domestic pig remains presently known in Egypt come from the large Predynastic settlement site of Merimda Beni Salama in the western Delta, dated to the fifth millennium BCE. Pig remains have been found throughout Egypt at sites such as Hierakonpolis, Maadi, Abydos, and Armant, near graves belonging to the poorer classes, indicating that pork was an element in their diet, at least at the Predynastic period. Cattle bones were found in graves belonging to more elite burials.

If there was a prohibition against eating pigs among the upper classes, there was none against raising them. In the early Fourth Dynasty tomb-chapel of Metjen at Saqqara, the deceased states that he received a bequest from his father that included "people, small livestock and pigs." The Eleventh Dynasty tomb of the nomarch Khety at Beni Hasan depicts a herd of pigs, the first in Egyptian art since the First Dynasty. Yet, while pig-farming continued on during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods, swine are conspicuously absent from the scenes of daily life that cover the walls of tomb-chapels of the upper classes and do not appear in the somewhat extensive offering lists. The explanation may be as simple as the fact that pigs are associated with grubbing in the dirt and rolling in the muck, perhaps considered unclean activities.

Pig-farming expanded during the New Kingdom. Inscriptions indicate that temples and wealthy citizens maintained large numbers of them on their country estates, and tomb-chapels of several nobles from the early 18th dynasty illustrate swine as well as other farmyard animals. The mayor of el-Kab relates that he owned a herd of fifteen hundred pigs. A temple of Amenhotep III at Memphis was endowed with some 1000 pigs and 1000 piglets, and the mortuary temple of Seti I at Abydos held large herds of swine on its domains.

Pigs are also shown in use for farming itself, as they tread seed into the soil, even into the time of Herodotus. Inscriptions on ostraca and other findings indicate that the workers at Deir el-Medina occasionally indulged in meals of pork.

So pigs were bred, raised and occasionally eaten in different places. What of the religious connection? Votive faience pig figurines dating to the first dynasty have been recovered from Abydos, Hierakonpolis, and Elephantine Island. The figurines from Abydos were found by Petrie inside what he considered to be the sacred compound of the god Osiris.

The Egyptian Museum in Berlin also holds a ceramic statue, dated to the Naqada I period, of what has been called a pig deity, indicating at least that swine formed a part of religious life at this time. The Brooklyn Museum also possesses a cylinder seal dated to the First Dynasty that displays figures of bristling pigs carved on it, and other seals from this period also depict pigs.

According to some traditions, the god Min, most associated with the city of Coptos in Upper Egypt, was born of a white sow. In a charm against snake bite, he is described as son "of the white sow of Heliopolis/Iunu" which is a form of the goddess Isis.

The god Set appears as a pig with erect bristles in the Annals of King Sahure of the fifth Dynasty on the Palermo Stone. The passage is translated in Marshall Clagett’s volume as follows: …"The first occurrence of going to the South and Inventorying the House of Horus-Set." The accompanying note indicates that this is not a certain rendering, since instead of a falcon-sign for Horus, there is an owl, and the sign for Set is presumably a pig, though it also resembles an anteater. If the translation does refer to a House of Horus-Set, perhaps at this time Set was not considered "evil."

Beginning in the Third Intermediate Period, statuettes and amulets of a rooting sow nursing her litter were popular, representing the sky goddess Nut. Conversely, spells in the Coffin Texts and in the Book of Going Forth By Day (Book of the Dead) show Set turning himself into a boar, leading some scholars to speculate that the pig’s connection with "evil" forms the true basis of its small use in food consumption and temple offerings.

The god Set, associated with the pig in iconography, was by the Late Period and the Hellenistic age in Egypt to be the "evil" murderer of the god Osiris, and the adversary of the god Horus. Yet, Seti I had been perhaps a priest of Set—certainly his name meant "Man of Set," and he was not considered an evil king. Set also continued to be worshiped at Ombos and Tanis and other locations.

The question as to whether or not the pig was taboo becomes murkier perhaps when it is considered that the animal played a part in medicine. The Ebers Papyrus lists humor of "pig’s eyes" to be injected into the ear to cure blindness. Another prescription for the eyes included the blood of pigs. Pig’s tooth and other ingredients were crushed and bandaged onto infected parts of the body to expel exudations, perhaps a reference to pus or eczema. Pig’s viscera, including the brain, was an ingredient in another cure to combat a form of cancer.

As in today’s western culture, where "Pork" is getting a face-lift being called "the second white meat" in order to boost its consumption, perhaps more study of the place of the pig in ancient Egyptian society will uncover new information.

Sources:

•Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt
•Animals in Ancient Egypt by Patrick Houlihan
•Dictionary of Ancient Egyptian Gods and Goddesses by George Hart
•Ancient Egyptian Science, Vol I, by Marshall Clagett
•Food: the Gift of Osiris by William J. Darby, Paul Ghalioungui and Louis Grivetti
Marie Parsons is an ardent student of Egyptian archaeology, ancient history and its religion. To learn about the earliest civilization is to learn about ourselves. Marie welcomes comments to [email protected].

[Apollonaris Zeus]

Egypt also killed all the pigs in their country--being it's a muslim country and they don't eat pork either--did this mean they killed what? like all two pigs in their country. (Not to mention that killing the pigs would have no effect on stopping the flu.)

JK

So are you saying Isreal will now slaughter Mexicans??!!

[Ugly Dougly]

That seems as logical as anything we've heard so far.

[ygmir]

just waiting now for all the catastrophe and mayhem........
relating to the old adage:

"when pigs fly"........in regards to something that'll never happen.

well

"the swine flu (ew)"......

[wedeliver]

I have a question, if the current varient is, lets say weak, and doesn't kill, would it be an idea to get the flu and an immunity to a stonger form of this flu next winter??

(on a side note, my son, 21 yr old, a 2 year burner, became ill 2 days ago, yesterday developed a 103 fever. In the last 3 hours the fever broke. He still is pretty sick but is showing slight improvement so we arn't going to the doctor today. (Naturally my kids have always needed medical care on Sundays)

[ygmir]

I have a question, if the current varient is, lets say weak, and doesn't kill, would it be an idea to get the flu and an immunity to a stonger form of this flu next winter??

(on a side note, my son, 21 yr old, a 2 year burner, became ill 2 days ago, yesterday developed a 103 fever. In the last 3 hours the fever broke. He still is pretty sick but is showing slight improvement so we aren't going to the doctor today. (Naturally my kids have always needed medical care on Sundays)

IIRC:
you create immunity only to a specific flu........if it's one you've not encountered, or been vaccinated against, the other immunity is no real help........

but, remember what
Nietzsche said..............

[Elderberry]

Egypt also killed all the pigs in their country--being it's a muslim country and they don't eat pork either--did this mean they killed what? like all two pigs in their country. (Not to mention that killing the pigs would have no effect on stopping the flu.)

JK

So are you saying Isreal will now slaughter Mexicans??!!

Only if they are not jewish.

JK

[theCryptofishist]

(Naturally my kids have always needed medical care on Sundays)

Ah, the doctor is their church.








I'm sure there's a much better way of saying that, but I'm a lttle under the weather myself.

[wedeliver]

(Naturally my kids have always needed medical care on Sundays)

Ah, the doctor is their church.


I'm sure there's a much better way of saying that, but I'm a lttle under the weather myself.

Actually since they would choose to get very sick on Sunday they usually didn't see a doctor but toughed it out using mom and dads home care health system via Doctor Spock's Baby and Child Care copyright 1978.

So, like david k, home was where the church was. (my mini cult, when we lived in Utah, when an introduced himself, I replied that I was an elder also, with my famliy as my followers.)


(I hope you feel better quickly...have you any chicken soup for fishies?)

[geospyder]

[Oldguy]

I recently reread Tom Clancy's book " Executive Orders". The main plot line was a biological warfare attack on the U.S.. The terrorists used ebola virus in an aerosol application. They used convention centers as targets to hit airborne travelers to spread virus. Geometric progression of victims infecting familys and fellow travelers was the clue identifing a bio-attack.

I was struck that the vice-president in real life was repeating the fictional tactic of isolating travelers with a travel ban. Ebola kills to rapidly to spread to new victims, if travel is limited. It mutates to less virulant strains over third generation, but still kills.

In the story, the real purpose was not to kill citizens but to draw protection closer to the real target, the president. In the story, a sleeper agent was a member of the Whitehouse detail of the Secret Service.

I, for one, have stayed home most of this past week. Better safe than sorry. I think Biden was correct in his personal opinion, but not in the public sense. Swine flu is dangerous, but not like ebola. Ebola has 80 percent mortality.

[oneeyeddick]

I ate from a salad bar at Sizzler tonight, there were children everywhere, some were sneezing too, it doesn't concern me in the slightest bit though, I aint afraid of no stinking flu..........

[Oldguy]

From the Wisebread site:

15 Things You Should Do Today to Prepare for a Pandemic Flu

Posted April 30, 2009 - 11:54 by Elizabeth Sanberg

For the past few years people have been telling us that it's not a matter of "if" a pandemic occurs, but a matter of "when."

Well, a pandemic may be upon us in the form of swine flu. Or it may not. Either way, it's a good time to review your emergency preparedness.

There's no reason for alarm, but having previously worked on pandemic planning, I know that you'll save time and money by preparing now, instead of waiting until there is an emergency.

Here are 10 things you should do right now to prepare yourself.

1. Get Extra Cash
I know I should have some emergency cash somewhere in my house. I used to have $200 hidden in a jar, but somehow I kept needing it for an "I don't have time to stop at the ATM" emergency.

If you don't have at least a little extra cash available, swing by the ATM today.

2. Hoard Soap
The best way to protect against the flu is to wash your hands. You can't do this without soap. Alcohol-based hand wash (like Purell) also works -- just make sure it's at least 60% alcohol.

3. Buy Water
I hate bottled water. It's terrible for the environment. But let's face it: without water we can't survive. Buy a few gallons of water to store in case of an emergency.

4. Purchase Dried Grains
If your shelves are looking scarce, go buy a few packages of pasta or rice.

5. Procure Non-Perishable Proteins
Dried beans are amazing. They keep forever, are tasty, and are immensely cheaper than canned beans. Peanut butter is another favorite protein. Unless you want to be sitting in your house eating plain rice during an emergency, now is the time to buy a few other staples.

6. Stock up on Canned Fruits and Veggies
Would storing a few cans a peaches and green beans in your cabinet be so difficult? Canned fruits and veggies may not taste the best. But, they're cheap and they keep.

7. Check Your First Aid Kit
Do you have the basics in your first aid kit? A thermometer and acetaminophen or ibuprofen are probably the two most essential items for the flu. Here's the Red Cross' First Aid Kit Checklist. Or you can buy a pre-assembled first aid kit for about $15.

8. Find Your Flashlight
Chances are you have a flashlight, but it's tucked away in the darkest cupboard in your basement. Find it and check the batteries.

9. Test Your Portable Radio
Neither your iPod nor Pandora will help you if you don't have electricity and you need to get the latest news. You will need a portable radio with working batteries.

10. Make an Emergency Contact List (on Paper)
Again, if there is no electricity your cell phone battery will only last so long. Now is the time to get your emergency contact numbers off of your phone and write them on paper.

11. Stash Away Extra Prescriptions
If you, your pet, or anyone in your family is on a prescription medication, make sure you have 1-3 months extra supplies.

12. Consider Buying N-95 Masks
About 3 years ago my dad bought me a few packages of N-95 masks. His good friend who is a doctor told him that if there was ever a pandemic these things would be gone from the shelves in a heartbeat. At the time I sort of laughed at my dad. But guess what -- I still have those masks.

This may being going a little too far, but buying a few N-95 masks is worth thinking about. They are relatively cheap considering the mental comfort they may give you.
Also note -- studies have shown they much more effective when placed on a sick person than on yourself.

13. Know Your Work/School's Emergency and/or Pandemic Plan
What is your work or school's plan in case of an emergency or pandemic? Will you be expected to work remotely? Will classes be canceled? Most large companies and schools have their emergency plans online -- take a look.

14. Understand Basic Prevention
To keep from getting sick practice prevention methods endorsed by the CDC:

1.Stay away from others who are sick.
2.Stay home if you're sick.
3.Cover your mouth when you cough.
4.Wash your hands.
5.Don't touch your face, nose, eyes.
6.Be healthy; that is get enough sleep, drink water, eat well, and exercise.
15. Do Further Research
Take 20 minutes today to glance through some emergency preparedness websites. Even if you don't stockpile 3 weeks worth of food like they say, it's still a good idea to know what the recommendations are. Ready.gov is a pretty solid site. And as a Minnesota resident I'm proud to say that MN's site CodeReady is another top site that's applicable for people living throughout the U.S.

Honestly, I've never been one for preparedness hype. And so far there has been no reason to panic. But the current pandemic possibility is a good reason to review your needs and your preparedness level. By doing so, you'll save yourself time, money, and anxiety in the long run.
......................

OK, a lot has been written about a possible pandemic.... I'm ready. Are you?

[ygmir]

From the Wisebread site:

15 Things You Should Do Today to Prepare for a Pandemic Flu

Posted April 30, 2009 - 11:54 by Elizabeth Sanberg

For the past few years people have been telling us that it's not a matter of "if" a pandemic occurs, but a matter of "when."

Well, a pandemic may be upon us in the form of swine flu. Or it may not. Either way, it's a good time to review your emergency preparedness.

There's no reason for alarm, but having previously worked on pandemic planning, I know that you'll save time and money by preparing now, instead of waiting until there is an emergency.

Here are 10 things you should do right now to prepare yourself.

1. Get Extra Cash
I know I should have some emergency cash somewhere in my house. I used to have $200 hidden in a jar, but somehow I kept needing it for an "I don't have time to stop at the ATM" emergency.

If you don't have at least a little extra cash available, swing by the ATM today.

2. Hoard Soap
The best way to protect against the flu is to wash your hands. You can't do this without soap. Alcohol-based hand wash (like Purell) also works -- just make sure it's at least 60% alcohol.

3. Buy Water
I hate bottled water. It's terrible for the environment. But let's face it: without water we can't survive. Buy a few gallons of water to store in case of an emergency.

4. Purchase Dried Grains
If your shelves are looking scarce, go buy a few packages of pasta or rice.

5. Procure Non-Perishable Proteins
Dried beans are amazing. They keep forever, are tasty, and are immensely cheaper than canned beans. Peanut butter is another favorite protein. Unless you want to be sitting in your house eating plain rice during an emergency, now is the time to buy a few other staples.

6. Stock up on Canned Fruits and Veggies
Would storing a few cans a peaches and green beans in your cabinet be so difficult? Canned fruits and veggies may not taste the best. But, they're cheap and they keep.

7. Check Your First Aid Kit
Do you have the basics in your first aid kit? A thermometer and acetaminophen or ibuprofen are probably the two most essential items for the flu. Here's the Red Cross' First Aid Kit Checklist. Or you can buy a pre-assembled first aid kit for about $15.

8. Find Your Flashlight
Chances are you have a flashlight, but it's tucked away in the darkest cupboard in your basement. Find it and check the batteries.

9. Test Your Portable Radio
Neither your iPod nor Pandora will help you if you don't have electricity and you need to get the latest news. You will need a portable radio with working batteries.

10. Make an Emergency Contact List (on Paper)
Again, if there is no electricity your cell phone battery will only last so long. Now is the time to get your emergency contact numbers off of your phone and write them on paper.

11. Stash Away Extra Prescriptions
If you, your pet, or anyone in your family is on a prescription medication, make sure you have 1-3 months extra supplies.

12. Consider Buying N-95 Masks
About 3 years ago my dad bought me a few packages of N-95 masks. His good friend who is a doctor told him that if there was ever a pandemic these things would be gone from the shelves in a heartbeat. At the time I sort of laughed at my dad. But guess what -- I still have those masks.

This may being going a little too far, but buying a few N-95 masks is worth thinking about. They are relatively cheap considering the mental comfort they may give you.
Also note -- studies have shown they much more effective when placed on a sick person than on yourself.

13. Know Your Work/School's Emergency and/or Pandemic Plan
What is your work or school's plan in case of an emergency or pandemic? Will you be expected to work remotely? Will classes be canceled? Most large companies and schools have their emergency plans online -- take a look.

14. Understand Basic Prevention
To keep from getting sick practice prevention methods endorsed by the CDC:

1.Stay away from others who are sick.
2.Stay home if you're sick.
3.Cover your mouth when you cough.
4.Wash your hands.
5.Don't touch your face, nose, eyes.
6.Be healthy; that is get enough sleep, drink water, eat well, and exercise.
15. Do Further Research
Take 20 minutes today to glance through some emergency preparedness websites. Even if you don't stockpile 3 weeks worth of food like they say, it's still a good idea to know what the recommendations are. Ready.gov is a pretty solid site. And as a Minnesota resident I'm proud to say that MN's site CodeReady is another top site that's applicable for people living throughout the U.S.

Honestly, I've never been one for preparedness hype. And so far there has been no reason to panic. But the current pandemic possibility is a good reason to review your needs and your preparedness level. By doing so, you'll save yourself time, money, and anxiety in the long run.
......................

OK, a lot has been written about a possible pandemic.... I'm ready. Are you?

all good points, thanks OG...........

I have a thought ( I know, random , wtf is he gonna say now)...........

it seems this flu is not deadly, or even that bad, except for Mexico.......
so, is it such a huge deal to avoid it? More people die from the regular flu, don't they?
Seems this is just some sort of media "hype" to see what we'll do........how we'll react, and, to get us to watch more news........

not that I want, or would suggest, anyone go out and get sick, I'm just wonderin' if it's such a big deal, any bigger than normal precautions taken during flu season...........

[wedeliver]

OMG (running around in circles waving hands in the air) WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/03/sw ... index.html

Canada: Farmer possibly gave swine flu to pigs.

(CNN) -- More than a week after the swine flu outbreak rattled the world, with cases of infected people popping up from Mexico to South Korea, the new virus strain has shown up in a herd of swine.


Masked workers push food to a sealed-off hotel in Beijing where Mexican nationals are being quarantined.

1 of 3 more photos » The catch, Canadian officials say, is that the animals may have caught the flu from a human.

Canadian officials are quarantining pigs that tested positive for the virus -- scientifically known as 2009 H1N1 -- at an Alberta farm in what could be the first identified case of pigs infected during the recent outbreak.

They said the pigs may have been infected by a Canadian farmer who recently returned from a trip to Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak that has sickened more than 680 people.

The farmer "may have exposed swine on the farm to an influenza virus," said Dr. Brian Evans of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

"We have determined that the virus H1N1, found in these pigs, is the virus which is being tracked in the human population," he added. Learn about the virus »

Evans and other officials said it is not uncommon for flu viruses to jump from humans to animals, and that it does not pose a risk for consuming pork. The number of pigs infected was not disclosed.

The infected farmer had flu-like symptoms and is recovering, Evans said.

Meanwhile, as the number of confirmed swine flu cases reached 787 worldwide, the World Health Organization said Sunday it had started distributing 2.4 million doses of a common anti-viral drug to 72 nations. So far, 17 countries have confirmed cases of swine flu, the WHO said. Watch latest developments as swine flu sweeps world »

Dr. Michael J. Ryan, the WHO director of its global alert and response team, said the doses of the drug Tamiflu came from a stockpile that was donated by Swiss health-care giant Roche in 2005 and 2006.

Roche said it was working with the WHO to prepare for the virus. The drug should be taken within 48 hours of experiencing symptoms, according to the drug's Web site.

Mexico has the most confirmed swine flu cases, with 506 infected people and 16 deaths, the WHO said. Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos reported that the country has confirmed 421 cases and 19 deaths.

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Several other countries, including Canada and Italy, had confirmed additional cases that had not yet been added to the WHO's total.

The United States has the second-highest number of confirmed cases, with 160 sickened and one death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO.

President Barack Obama spoke with Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Saturday afternoon to discuss both countries' "efforts to limit the spread of the 2009 H1N1 flu strain and the importance of close U.S.-Mexican cooperation," the White House said in a statement.

Other than Mexico and the United States, the WHO confirmed cases in 14 other countries: Canada, with 70; the United Kingdom with 15; Spain with 13; Germany with six; New Zealand with four; Israel with three; France, with two; and Austria, China, South Korea, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Costa Rica, each have one. See where cases have been confirmed »

Ryan said the WHO was still preparing for a pandemic.

"At this point we have to expect that phase six will be reached," he said, referring to the organization's highest pandemic threat level. "We have to hope that it is not reached." And he noted that a pandemic describes "the geographic spread of the disease, not its severity."

The latest developments come as parts of Asia discovered they were not immune to the spread of the virus.

Hundreds of guests and staff were under quarantine in China after health officials determined that a hotel guest had contracted the H1N1 virus.

Nearly 200 hotel guests and 100 staff members were ordered to stay in Metro Park Hotel in Hong Kong for seven days to stop the spread of the H1N1 virus, a government spokesman said.


The quarantine was ordered after a 25-year-old Mexican man stayed in the hotel and became sick, according to the spokesman. It is the first confirmed case of the virus in Hong Kong, local medical officials said.

South Korean officials on Saturday confirmed their first case -- a 51-year-old nun who recently traveled to Mexico for volunteer work.