Swine fever pattern emerges - WHO goes into critical alert phase

The WHO's concern is amplified because "the viruses characterised in this outbreak have not been previously detected in pigs or humans," the statement underlined.

SHOOT: All of the warning signs of a serious outbreak are here. All of them. I'm predicting a rush on Tamiflu.

Latest: Swine flu in New Zealand, France, suspected cases in Israel, New York

clipped from www.google.com GENEVA (AFP) — The World Health Organization went on high alert Friday, dispatching top experts to battle an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and two southern US states suspected of causing scores of deaths. "Because there are human cases associated with an animal influenza virus, and because of the geographical spread of multiple community outbreaks, plus the somewhat unusual age groups affected, these events are of high concern," the Swiss-based body said in a statement. The WHO said Canadian laboratory testing had confirmed 18 cases of swine fever among almost 1,000 Mexicans found to have an influenza-like illness in three regions -- of which 62 died. "Of the Mexican cases, 18 have been laboratory confirmed in Canada as Swine Influenza A/H1N1, while 12 of those are genetically identical to the Swine Influenza A/H1N1 viruses from California," the WHO said in its statement. WHO is concerned about the pattern of infection.