World Health Organization meets on swine flu vaccine; expert says vaccine will be produced

LONDON — As swine flu cases topped 6,600 worldwide, vaccine makers and other experts met Thursday at the World Health Organization in Geneva to discuss the tough decisions that must be made quickly to fight the evolving virus.

Quarantines spread in China, but Mexico relaxing as global swine flu caseload tops 6,000

MEXICO CITY — In China, mask-wearing police cordoned off more hotels Wednesday, quarantining anyone who came in contact with swine flu patients, no matter how mild their symptoms. Not so in Mexico, where the health secretary encouraged tourists to come relax in their favorite vacation spots despite a growing swine flu caseload.

Wary about future, WHO says Tamiflu should be saved for really sick, like pregnant women

MEXICO CITY — With swine flu still spreading, the U.N. health agency is warning countries to limit their use of antiviral drugs to only high-risk patients to ensure adequate supplies in case the virus should mutate and become more dangerous.

WHO says Tamiflu should be saved for the really sick; CDC says infected pregnant women need it

MEXICO CITY — The swine flu epidemic may seem mild now, with relatively few deaths even as the virus infects thousands in at least 33 countries. But experts worry it could mutate into something more dangerous — making the question of who should get antiviral therapy ever more important.

Mexico says worst is over despite rising swine flu toll; Castro blasts slow response

MEXICO CITY — European countries have been using antiviral drugs much more aggressively than the United States and Mexico to combat swine flu — a difference in strategy that could have a big impact as the virus that is already linked to 63 deaths spreads around the planet.

Study: Swine flu may be up to 23,000 in Mexico; Castro blasts Mexico for slow response

MEXICO CITY — The swine flu virus spread to more countries Tuesday as scientists estimated the new strain could have sickened 23,000 people in Mexico alone before anyone realized it was an epidemic.

Scientists say swine flu may have sickened 23,000 in Mexico; Cuba, Thailand join infected list

MEXICO CITY — The swine flu virus was confirmed on Tuesday to have spread to more countries as scientists estimated the new strain could have sickened 23,000 people in Mexico alone before anyone realized it was an epidemic.

Swine flu spreads; Mexico raises death toll but lets millions of children return to school

MEXICO CITY — Mexico welcomed millions of children back to school Monday with masks, thermometers and globs of hand sanitizer, as scientists estimated the new strain of swine flu could have sickened 23,000 people before anyone realized it was an epidemic.

Mexicans return to school as swine flu death toll rises; critics call for generic drugs

MEXICO CITY — Millions of children, many wearing surgical masks, returned to scrubbed and disinfected classrooms Monday after a nationwide shutdown to curb the spread of swine flu in Mexico.

Mexico-China swine flu flap grows as Mexico quits Shanghai trade fair to protest treatment

MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s government on Sunday called China’s treatment of its citizens unacceptable and said it would not participate in a Shanghai trade fair in a dispute over anti-swine flu measures adopted by the Asian giant.

Costa Rica reports 1st swine flu death outside N. America; Japan quarantines travellers

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Costa Rica reported the death of a 53-year-old patient with swine flu on Saturday, the first death from the epidemic outside of a North American nation, while Japanese authorities scrambled to limit contacts with their first confirmed cases of the disease.

Costa Rica’s health minister confirms swine flu death _ the first in Central America

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Costa Rica’s health minister confirmed the death of a 53-year-old patient with swine flu on Saturday, the first death from the pandemic outside of a North American nation.

Costa Rica’s health minister confirms swine flu death _ the first in Central America

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Costa Rica’s health minister confirmed the death of a 53-year-old patient with swine flu on Saturday, the first death from the epidemic outside of a North American nation.

Hong Kong lifts quarantine of hotel where flu reported, as Mexico’s reopening hits snags

HONG KONG — Hong Kong lifted a weeklong quarantine Friday of an upscale hotel where Asia’s first swine flu case was traced, allowing 280 guests and workers to end an isolation that was criticized as overkill by some but a medical necessity by authorities.

Mexico’s reopening from swine flu hits snags; virus spreads to other Latin American countries

MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s emergence from a national shutdown hit snags as some high schools were not cleaned in time to open and students returned to class in others without swine flu checkups. Cases of the virus popped up in two more Latin America countries.

Mexico high schools, universities reopen after closures to curb spread of swine flu

MEXICO CITY — High schools and universities closed by the swine flu epidemic are reopening across Mexico, with school employees and parents carefully checking each returning student for flu symptoms.

WHO says up to 2B people might get swine flu if it moves to a pandemic

GENEVA — Up to 2 billion people could be infected by swine flu if the current outbreak turns into a pandemic lasting two years, the World Health Organization said Thursday.

Mexico cautiously begins reopening schools amid massive disinfection campaign

SAN MIGUEL TOPILEJO, Mexico — As if marshaling for war, Mexico’s government mobilized thousands of education officials and parents across the country to swiftly disinfect schools and monitor millions of returning students for signs of swine flu.

WHO says up to 2B people might get swine flu if it moves to a pandemic

GENEVA — Up to 2 billion people could be infected by swine flu if the current outbreak turns into a pandemic lasting two years, the World Health Organization said Thursday.

With sanitized handshakes, Mexico returns to work after shutdown to contain swine flu virus

MEXICO CITY — In gleaming office towers and gritty markets, Mexicans returned to work Wednesday after a five-day swine flu shutdown, and dozens returned to a heroes’ welcome from “humiliating” quarantines in China. But Mexico’s death toll rose, feeding fears of more infections now that crowds are gathering again.

Mexican health officials say swine flu death toll rises to 42

MEXICO CITY — Mexican health officials say that testing of backlogged cases has increased the confirmed swine flu death toll from 31 to 42. That includes three new deaths in the past two days.

Quarantined Mexicans arrive home as country begins to emerge from swine flu lockdown

MEXICO CITY — Dozens of Mexican nationals quarantined in China despite having no swine flu symptoms arrived home Wednesday on a government-chartered jet, some complaining of “humiliation and discrimination” by the Chinese. But as Mexicans emerged from their own five-day swine flu shutdown, the death toll rose and many remained fearful.

Mexican citizens quarantined in China despite having no symptoms of swine flu come home

MEXICO CITY — A government-chartered jet has landed in Mexico carrying dozens of citizens who were quarantined in China despite having no symptoms of swine flu.

Quarantined Mexicans flying back home as country begins to emerge from swine flu lockdown

MEXICO CITY — Dozens of Mexican nationals who were quarantined at hospitals and hotels in China despite showing no symptoms of swine flu arrived home early Wednesday on a government-chartered jet.

Mexico City getting some of its bustle back after swine flu shutdown, focus turn to economy

MEXICO CITY — Mexico announced steps Tuesday to jump start an economy punished by the swine flu epidemic. Cinco de Mayo celebrations, however, will have to wait until next year.

Mexico City getting some of its bustle back after swine flu shutdown, but experts urge caution

MEXICO CITY — Mexico began a cautious return to normal Tuesday, the government canceling Cinco de Mayo celebrations as traffic picked up in the capital and cafes reopened following a five-day shutdown to contain swine flu.

As Mexico returns to “normalcy,” swine flu experts fear a rebound; epidemic grows globally

MEXICO CITY — Mexico announced a return to “normalcy” on Monday, preparing to reopen businesses and schools even as the virus sickened more than 1,400 people in 20 countries.

Mexico prepares to reopen businesses, schools as some health officials fear swine flu rebound

MEXICO CITY — Mexico announced a return to “normalcy” on Monday, preparing to reopen businesses and schools even as the virus sickened more than 1,400 people in 20 countries.

As Mexico returns to “normalcy,” swine flu experts fear a rebound; epidemic grows globally

MEXICO CITY — Mexico announced a return to “normalcy” on Monday, preparing to reopen businesses and schools even as the virus sickened more than 1,200 people in 20 countries.

Mexico lowers flu alert level, while world health officials weigh raising pandemic level

MEXICO CITY — Mexican officials lowered their swine flu alert level in the capital on Monday and said they will allow universities, cafes, museums and libraries to reopen this week, even as the number of confirmed cases topped 1,200 worldwide.