Swine flu fears hit Wimbledon as cases rise

SWINE FLU fears hit the Wimbledon tennis championships yesterday as World Health Organisation (WHO) figures showed global cases leaping past 70,000 while Australian researchers said a vaccine could be ready in months.

With the death toll from the pandemic at 311 and total cases at 70,893, according to the WHO, more countries reported their first A(H1N1) infections and Indonesia planned to ask some people arriving there to wear masks.

The worries at Wimbledon came with play intensifying as the tournament entered its second week. Organisers said some staff members have reported “flu-like” symptoms but the competition would continue as normal.