Sunday, June 7, 2009

China reports 5 more swine flu cases, total at 72

Associated Press , Beijing Sun, 06/07/2009 10:41 AM World

Chinese health authorities have reported five more cases of swine flu in people who recently arrived from the U.S. and Canada, bringing the total number on the mainland to 72.

The newly infected people were in Beijing and the provinces of Hubei, Guangdong and Sichuan, the Health Ministry and local health bureaus said Saturday.

Authorities have quarantined 15 people in close contact with two women in Beijing who tested positive for swine flu after arriving from the U.S. a few days ago, the Beijing health bureau said.

Meanwhile, Guangdong officials were working to locate people in contact with an infected man who arrived from Canada on Friday.

The two other cases were in Chinese Americans who arrived from U.S. cities.

Authorities have been enforcing quarantines and temperature checks at airports throughout the country to prevent the virus from spreading.

The World Health Organization said it has spread to 69 countries and infected nearly 22,000 people. Most of the cases have been mild, though 126 people have died as a result of the disease.

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