As Mexico reels under its spreading swine flu outbreak, and with all of the new-strain swine flu deaths being confined to Mexico so far, the U.S. government is taking no chances and has declared a public health emergency Sunday as the number of identified cases of the new swine flu in the U.S. rose to 20.
The World Health Organization declared the flu a "public health emergency of international concern" and says it could become a pandemic, or a global outbreak of serious disease.
Reuters reports that Mexico City nearly ground to a halt on Sunday with restaurants, cinemas and churches closing their doors and millions staying at home as officials tested 1,300 suspect cases.
Mexican flu is characterized by a sudden fever, muscle aches, sore throat and dry cough. Victims of the new strain have also suffered more vomiting and diarrhea than is usual with flu.
Robert Gibbs, White House spokesman, said the U.S. government is following developments on Mexiflu closely and would update the public regularly.
Stay alert but don't panic. It looks like Tamiflu from Roche works against this new menace, and surplus supplies have been built up.