Free Republic

Mexico outbreak traced to 'manure lagoons' at pig farm A village where residents have long complained about the smell and flies from a pig farm may be the source of the outbreak Chris Ayres in Mexico City The first known case of swine flu emerged a fortnight earlier than previously thought in a village where residents have long complained about the smell and flies from a nearby pig farm, it emerged last night. The Mexican Government said it initially thought that the victim, Edgar Hernandez, 4, was suffering from ordinary influenza but laboratory testing has since shown that he had...

Napolitano declares public health emergency @ 1:01 pm by Eric Zimmermann The United States will declare the swine flu outbreak a public health emergency, Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano said today. Speaking at a White House press briefing, Napolitano said the declaration is not as severe it sounds. "It allows us to free up state and local resources" that otherwise would not be available, Napolitano said. The declaration does not necessarily convey the authority to initiate quarantines. "We're nowhere near that kind of decision," Napolitano said. Also at the briefing, the Director of the Center for Disease Control, Richard Besser,...