Global pandemic fears as swine flu death toll hits 81

FEARS of a global swine flu pandemic grew with new infections in the US and Canada yesterday and millions of Mexicans hid indoors to avoid a virus that has killed up to 81 people.

While the only deaths have been in Mexico, the flu is spreading, with 20 cases in the United States, which declared a public health emergency yesterday, and six in Canada, and possible cases as far afield as Spain and France and New Zealand.

US homeland security secretary Janet Napolitano said the declaration of the public health emergency was necessary to free up federal, state and local agencies’ resources and authorise the release of funds to buy more antivirals. “This is standard operating procedure,” Napolitano stressed, adding that similar declarations had been issued in the past to help states cope with flooding or to help them prepare for approaching hurricanes.