The swine flu epidemic entered a dangerous new phase today 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 (WHO) raised its alert level but stopped short of declaring a global emergency.
The United States advised Americans against most travel to Mexico and ordered stepped up border checks in neighboring states. The European Union health commissioner advised Europeans to avoid nonessential travel both to Mexico and parts of the United States. The virus poses a potentially grave new threat to the US economy, which was showing tentative early signs of a recovery. A widespread outbreak could batter tourism, food and transportation industries, deepening the recession in the US and possibly worldwide.
The suspected number of deaths rose to 149 in Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak with nearly 2,000 people believed to be infected.
The number of US cases rose to 48, the result of further testing at a New York City school, although none was fatal. Other US cases have been reported in Ohio, Kansas, Texas and California. Worldwide there were 77 cases, including six in Canada, one in Spain and two in Scotland.
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