New Zealand, Israel confirm 12 cases of swine flu, the first in Asia region and Middle East

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand’s health minister and an Israeli hospital are reporting the first confirmed cases of swine flu to hit the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific regions.

Unprecedented global alert sounded as health officials try to snuff out deadly flu outbreak

MEXICO CITY — World health officials raised a global alert to an unprecedented level as swine flu was blamed for more deaths in Mexico and the epidemic crossed new borders, with the first cases confirmed Tuesday in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific regions.

Swine flu epidemic enters new phase as death toll climbs in Mexico, US cases nearly double

MEXICO CITY — The swine flu epidemic entered a dangerous new phase Monday as the death toll climbed in Mexico and the number of suspected cases there and in the United States nearly doubled. The World Health Organization raised its alert level but stopped short of declaring a global emergency.

WHO raises global alert level, signaling swine flu is spreading, but stops short of pandemic

MEXICO CITY — The swine flu epidemic entered a dangerous new phase Monday as the death toll climbed in Mexico and the number of suspected cases there and in the United States nearly doubled. The World Health Organization raised its alert level but stopped short of declaring a global emergency.

US responding to swine flu outbreak aggressively, same as if it were pandemic, officials say

WASHINGTON — Confirming at least 40 cases of swine flu in the U.S., the Obama administration said Monday it was responding aggressively as if the outbreak would spread into a full pandemic. Officials urged Americans against most travel to Mexico as the virus that began there spread to the United States and beyond. President Barack Obama urged calm, saying there was reason for concern but not yet “a cause for alarm.”

US officials advises against most travel to Mexico with 40 reported swine flu cases in the US

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials advised Americans against most travel to Mexico on Monday as a swine flu virus that began there spread to the United States and beyond. With 40 cases now reported in the U.S., President Barack Obama urged calm, saying there was reason for concern but not yet “a cause for alarm.”

US advises against Mexico travel as swine flu cases rise to 40 in America

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials advised Americans against most travel to Mexico on Monday as a swine flu virus that began there spread to the United States and beyond. With 40 cases now reported in the U.S., President Barack Obama urged calm, saying there was reason for concern but not yet “a cause for alarm.”

US swine flu case rise to 40; agents check borders but Obama says no ’cause for alarm’

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials said Monday they were acting aggressively to confront the spreading swine flu virus — now confirmed in 40 victims — while President Barack Obama said there was concern but not yet “a cause for alarm,” A travel advisory was being prepared suggesting Americans not travel to Mexico, center of the outbreak.

Obama says swine flu reason for concern but not a ’cause for alarm;’ WHO cites 40 US cases

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Monday the threat of spreading swine flu infections is matter of concern but “not a cause for alarm.” The United States and other countries across the globe increased their vigilance as the World Health Organization said there are now 40 confirmed cases in the U.S.

Obama says spread of swine flu reason for concern, but not yet a ’cause for alarm’

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Monday the threat of spreading swine flu infections is cause for concern but “not a cause for alarm,” as the United States stepped up border monitoring and countries across the globe increased their vigilance as well.

CDC: US has begun monitoring borders for evidence of swine flu spread, urges calm among public

WASHINGTON — Amid surging worries about a global pandemic, the United States launched border screening for swine flu exposure Monday and a top federal health official said people should brace for more severe cases, “and possibly deaths.”

US declares health emergency as world officials race to contain worrisome swine flu, panic

WASHINGTON — Governments are racing to find and contain pockets of swine flu around the globe, seeking to stem both the threat of a pandemic and public panic.

US declares health emergency as world officials race to contain worrisome swine flu, panic

WASHINGTON — Governments are racing to find and contain pockets of swine flu around the globe, seeking to stem both the threat of a pandemic and public panic.

Mexico City mayor says 5 new flu deaths overnight _ 2 confirmed as swine flu; 73 more sickened

MEXICO CITY — Mexico City’s mayor says two more people have died of swine flu overnight in the capital, and three other deaths are suspected to have been caused by the new strain.

Mexico City churches call off Mass, streets quiet as reports of swine flu cases climb

MEXICO CITY — Churches stood empty Sunday in heavily Roman Catholic Mexico City after services were canceled, and health workers screened airports and bus stations for people sickened by a new strain of swine flu that experts fear could become a global epidemic.

Mexico City churches call off mass, streets quiet as reports of swine flu cases climb

MEXICO CITY — Churches stood empty Sunday morning in heavily Catholic Mexico City after services were canceled due to a new strain of swine flu that has people increasingly fearful and that health officials say could become a global epidemic.

Mexico City streets empty, churches and restaurants close as reports of swine flu cases climb

MEXICO CITY — A new strain of swine flu has this metropolis of 20 million people increasingly fearful as suspected flu deaths grow, and world health officials warn that Mexico City could be at the epicenter of a global epidemic.

Mexico extends school closures in capital, 2 more states for 10 days in swine flu outbreak.

MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities have extended school closures in the capital and two other states with swine flu outbreaks for 10 more days.

Mexico empowers health department to isolate patients, inspect homes in swine flu outbreak

MEXICO CITY — The Mexican government has issued a special decree clarifying Health Department powers to isolate patients and to inspect homes, incoming travelers and baggage to curb an outbreak of swine flu.

Mexico City mayor cancels all public events amid swine flu outbreak with ‘pandemic potential’

MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s president assumed new powers Saturday to isolate people infected with a deadly swine flu strain as authorities struggled to contain an outbreak that world health officials warned could become a global epidemic.

Mexico City cancels all public events as WHO chief says swine flu has ‘pandemic potential’

MEXICO CITY — A deadly new swine flu strain that has killed at least 20 people in Mexico City and sickened more than 1,000 has “pandemic potential,” the World Health Organization chief said Saturday — but some fear it may be too late to contain the outbreak.

Mexico City mayor cancels all public events for 10 days to try to contain swine flu outbreak

MEXICO CITY — Mexico City is suspending all public events for 10 days as officials try to contain an outbreak of a deadly new swine flu.

Fear, anger, laughter as Mexico’s capital copes with possibility of global flu epidemic

MEXICO CITY — The schools and museums are closed. Sold-out games between Mexico’s most popular soccer teams are being played in empty stadiums. Health workers are ordering sickly passengers off subways and buses. And while bars and nightclubs filled up as usual, even some teenagers were dancing with surgical masks on.

Dozens of suspected swine flu deaths in Mexico raise fears of global epidemic

MEXICO CITY — A unique strain of swine flu is the suspected killer of dozens of people in Mexico, where authorities closed schools, museums, libraries and theaters in the capital on Friday to try to contain an outbreak that has spurred concerns of a global flu epidemic.

Mexico shuts schools, museums, libraries to stop swine flu outbreak that has killed at least 20

MEXICO CITY — Mexico shut down schools, museums, libraries and state-run theaters across it overcrowded capital Friday in hopes of containing a swine flu outbreak that authorities say killed at least 20 people — and perhaps dozens more. World health authorities worried openly that the strange new virus could become a global epidemic.

Mexico City closes museums, libraries, state-run theaters to stop swine flu outbreak

MEXICO CITY — Mexico shut down schools, museums, libraries and state-run theaters across it overcrowded capital Friday in hopes of containing a swine flu outbreak that authorities say killed at least 20 people — and perhaps dozens more. World health authorities worried openly that the strange new virus could become a global epidemic.

60 deaths in Mexico, probably from strange new flu, raise fears of global epidemic

MEXICO CITY — Mexico shut down schools, museums, libraries and state-run theaters across it overcrowded capital Friday in hopes of containing a swine flu outbreak that authorities say killed at least 20 people — and perhaps dozens more. World health authorities worried openly that the strange new virus could become a global epidemic.

Deaths in Mexico from strange new flu raise fears of global epidemic; capital schools closed

MEXICO CITY — At least 16 people — and possibly dozens more — have died from a swine flu virus in Mexico, and world health officials worry it could unleash a global flu epidemic. Mexico City closed schools across the metropolis Friday in hopes of containing the outbreak, and tougher measures were being considered.

WHO worries about pandemic as death toll rises in Mexico flu outbreak; Capital closes schools

MEXICO CITY — Mexico closed its schools across its capital Friday after at least 16 otherwise healthy people died and more than 900 others fell ill from what could be a new strain of swine flu. The World Health Organization worried that it could mark the start of a flu pandemic.