Mexico’s swine flu outbreak appeared to be easing on Saturday with a decrease in serious cases, the government said, but world health officials warned the unpredictable virus could still become a pandemic.
“Each day there are fewer serious cases and the mortality has been decreasing,” Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told a news conference in Mexico City, where millions were heeding government advice to stay at home.
Of the more than 100 suspected deaths from the new H1N1 virus that have emerged in the Latin American nation, 19 had been confirmed, Cordova said. Mexico had already scaled back from its original estimate of 176 suspected deaths.
Well, the holy water fonts were empty, but we got little bottles of hand sanitizer to use before and after Mass. No personal greeting at the Peace, no hand-holding at the Our Father, an oriental style bow to the clergy at the door afterwards. And Communion in one kind only (no Cup), the Host placed on the hand.
At least Father admitted the whole thing is probably ridiculous – a media event – but we have to enact “due diligence”.
Oh, and parish events, except for sacraments, are deferred for a couple of weeks.
Overnight, Mexico admitted a huge bump up in new diagnoses and death. Spain, because it takes a large influx of Mexicans, has more rates of swine flu infection than any other country in Europe. In Canada, a Mexican farm worker infected the pig herd on a farm where he’s employed in Alberta, after returning from a vaction in Mexico. It’s not easing, the article was an attempt to shut down legitimate concerns against keeping the borders with Mexico open during the pandemic.
#1, my heart’s desire realized! –The lack of all the indiscriminate glad-handing, hugging and kissing in the middle of the service.
an oriental style bow
It’s Asian. Oriental refers to objects, Asian to people and actions.
From the WHO website:
The United States Government has reported 226 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.
As of today the US population is 306,346,218. So that is less than a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of getting it.
Within the next few weeks, the migrant workers from Mexico will be heading all over the U.S. to do farm work. Watch the virus spread.