AP - WHO: "No plans for phase 6; Mexico says flu ebbing

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexican officials lowered their flu alert level in the capital on Monday and said they will allow cafes, museums and libraries to reopen this week. World health officials weighed raising their pandemic alert to the highest level.

Mexican officials declared the epidemic to be waning, announcing that Wednesday will conclude a five-day closure of nonessential businesses that was called to stop the spread of the new virus. Health officials need to finish inspecting schools before students can return to class.

In New York on Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the World Health Organization 'has no plan to raise the alert level to 6 at this moment.' WHO chief Margaret Chan also told the U.N. General Assembly by videolink from Geneva that 'we are not there yet.'

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais published Monday, Chan implied the agency might raise its alert. She played down the impact of going to level 6, saying she was concerned about causing unnecessary panic.

AP - WHO: "No plan for level 6"; Mexico says flu ebbing

Al Jazeera English - Americas - Global flu cases top 1,000

The number of cases of H1N1 flu confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has passed the 1,000 mark.

Margaret Chan, the WHO chief, told the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday that the health body has recorded 1,003 cases of the i nfluenza from 20 countries.

Chan, however, said there was 'no indication that we are facing a situation similar to that in 1918,' when a flu pandemic killed about 50 million people.

But in comments published in a newspaper earlier on Monday, Chan warned that a second wave of the H1N1 virus 'would be the biggest of all outbreaks the world has faced in the 21st century.'

She told the Financial Times that the virus could re-emerge in the months ahead 'with a vengeance'.

'I'm not predicting the pandemic will blow up, but if I miss it and we don't prepare, I fail. I'd rather over-prepare than not prepare,' she told the newspaper.

Al Jazeera English - Americas - Global flu cases top 1,000

Pan American Health Organization - Organización Panamericana de la Salud - Update Influenza AH1N1: Regional Report ( 5/2, sorry, I missed it)

To date, the United States has confirmed a total of 160 human cases of influenza A (H1N1): 4 in Arizona, 24 in California, 2 in Colorado, 1 in Connecticut, 4 in Delaware, 2 in Florida, 3 in Illinois, 3 in Indiana, 2 in Kansas, 1 in Kentucky, 8 in Massachusetts, 2 in Michigan, 1 in Minnesota, 1 in Missouri, 1 in Nebraska, 1 in Nevada, 7 in New Jersey, 50 in New York, 1 in Ohio, 13 in South Carolina, 28 in Texas and 2 in Virginia. Other suspected cases are being investigated. 6 hospitalizations and a death have been registered. The dead case is a child of 22 months old. The age range of the confirmed cases is from 22 months to 81 years (a median of 16 years).

From 17 April to May 1st, Mexico has reported 4,691 suspected cases of influenza with severe pneumonia including 99 deaths.

Pan American Health Organization: Update Influenza AH1N1: Regional Report (2 May 2009)

WHO | Influenza A(H1N1) - update 13

Official bulletin of the World Health Organisation

As of 06:00 GMT, 4 May 2009, 20 countries have officially reported 985 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.

Mexico has reported 590 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 25 deaths. The higher number of cases from Mexico reflects ongoing testing of previously collected specimens. The United States has reported 226 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (85), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Colombia (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (2), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (3), Italy (1), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (4), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (40), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (15).

WHO | Influenza A(H1N1) - update 13

Deccan Herald - Mexico raises flu toll to 22 dead, 568 infected

Mexico's toll from the A/H1N1 influenza virus has increased to 22 dead and 568 infected cases, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said.

The previous toll, given earlier yesterday, was 19 dead and 487 infected.

'There are 590 positive cases, of which 568 people are alive and 22 are people who are unfortunately deceased,' Cordova told a news conference late yesterday.

He said the tally resulted from lab tests on 1,523 suspect cases compiled since the outbreak of the swine flu.

Fifteen of the fatalities were women and seven were men, he said. Most died in Mexico City.

Deccan Herald - Mexico raises flu toll to 22 dead, 568 infected